This is what the Astros bullpen looks like heading into the final month of the season

What to know about the Astros bullpen

Ryan Pressly delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth inning at Busch Stadium on July 26, 2019, in St Louis, Missouri.

HOUSTON – As the Houston Astros head into the last month of the regular season, here's a look at what their bullpen looks like:

Roberto Osuna #54 of the Houston Astros reacts after walking Mitch Moreland #18 of the Boston Red Sox (not pictured) and scoring Steve Pearce #25 (not pictured) in the eighth inning during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas.

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ROBERTO OSUNA

ROLE: Closer
STATS: 2.81 ERA, 29 saves, 5 blow saves

THE TREND: Osuna had a rough July, with a 5.87 ERA, but has been mostly clean in August aside from one performance. After giving up three runs in a blown save against the lowly Orioles, Osuna has pitched four scoreless innings, getting three saves.

He is unquestionably the playoff closer.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Despite only being 24, Osuna actually has a ton of playoff experience. He's pitched in 18 playoff games, including four for the Astros. Osuna struggled against Boston last year in the ALCS, but was clean against Cleveland in the ALDS.

RYAN PRESSLY

ROLE: Setup man
STATS: 2.50 ERA, 27 holds, 3 saves

THE TREND: Not good. Pressly has dealt with a knee injury for the past few weeks and will miss 4-6 weeks for arthroscopic knee surgery to get it taken care of. Astros GM Jeff Lunhow believes Pressly can be back in time to get into a at least one regular season game before he has to pitch in the playoffs. A healthy Pressly is near untouchable, one with knee pain – less so.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Limited but solid. Pressly pitched in 5 games for the Astros in the playoffs last season, giving up one run in 5 innings. Houston needs him to be their 8th inning guy.

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 13: Reliever Will Harris #36 of the Houston Astros delivers pitch during the seventh inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 13, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Astros won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

WILL HARRIS

ROLE: 7th inning guy
THE STATS: 1.69 ERA, 21 holds

THE TREND: Will Harris is having a tremendous season, pitching to a 1.69 ERA and has given up just one earned run in eight August appearances. Harris has been Houston's most consistent reliever this season. He's not as strong of a strikeout pitcher as Ryan Pressly but may have to pitch the 8th until Pressly gets back from his knee surgery.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: 11 games, but outside of 2 clean innings in the World Series, Harris has struggled. He has a 6.75 ERA in the playoffs.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Joe Smith #38 of the Houston Astros poses for a portrait at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on February 21, 2018 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

JOE SMITH

ROLE: Undetermined 
THE STATS: 1.38 ERA in 15 games 

THE TREND: Joe Smith has only pitched 15 games due to an achilles injury but has been dominant since his return. A.J. Hinch has already used him 10 times in August, with three holds. Smith will likely have a big role in the playoff rotation.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Some. 8 games, 5.1 innings worth across three teams. Smith has only given up one run in the playoffs – last year in the ALCS against the Red Sox, taking a loss for Houston.

CHRIS DEVENSKI

ROLE: Middle relief 
THE STATS: 4.82 ERA, 5 holds

THE TREND: After a combined 43 holds in 2017-18, Devenski has not been trustworthy in late innings. His ERA is near 5, and he's been relegated to a middle innings role. Devenski has given up at least in 5 of his last 6 appearances, including a spot start on August 13 where he gave up 3 runs (1 earned) in 2 innings. Following that start, Devenski has given up 4 earned runs in 2 innings.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Rough. 10 games, 8 innings, but a 9.00 ERA, all in 2017.

HECTOR RONDON

ROLE: Middle relief
THE STATS: 3.72 ERA, 7.1 K/9

THE TREND: Rondon's ERA is higher than it should be due to a July 16 spot start where he gave up 6 runs. Since then, he's pitched 12.2 innings giving up just 1 run – which came on a home run this week. Rondon lowered his ERA by a full run in the last month and has been pitching well enough get key outs.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Plenty. 15 innings in 17 appearances, including a World Series ring with the Cubs. Rondon pitched just 1 inning with the Astros in 2018, not giving up a run in a loss.

COLLIN MCHUGH

ROLE: Long relief
THE STATS: 4.85 ERA in 32 games, 8 starts/24 relief appearances

THE TREND: McHugh got converted to a reliever after giving up 10 and 8 runs in a pair of early season starts. Since then, he's pitched to a 2.87 ERA as a reliever, often pitching multiple innings. McHugh will be valuable in the playoffs once the game changes and teams go to the bullpen early.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: A mix of starts (2 in 2015) and relief (6 appearances in 2017 and 2018) makes McHugh important. He wasn't very good in the World Series but pitched 4 strong innings in the 2017 ALCS and pitched 4 scoreless innings in 2018.

BRAD PEACOCK

ROLE: Long relief
THE STATS: 4.05 ERA, 15 starts, 3 relief appearances

THE TREND: Peacock is the most recently converted starter, recently returning from injury into the bullpen after spending half the season as a starter. A.J. Hinch has said Peacock has been "retrained" as a reliever. Peacock's first appearance back he went 1.2 scoreless innings.

PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: All in 2017, Peacock struggled in his 1 start in the ALDS, struggled in the ALCS, then bloomed in the World Series. Pitching 7.1 innings in 4 appearances, Peacock gave up just 2 runs ot the Dodgers helping the Astros win the World Series.

THE OTHERS: JOSH JAMES, JOE BIAGINI, CY SNEED

The rest of the Astros bullpen consists of all long relief/converted starter types. Josh James throws hard, Joe Biagini has strong relief experience (plus the Astros traded for him) and Sneed has been up and down mixing starts and relief appearances. It remains to be seen if any of the three will make the playoff roster.


About the Author:

Murrow and Emmy award-winning sports anchor & reporter. Avid traveler, mediocre golfer. Loves good food, good friends and southern rap.