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The Houston Astros have a bullpen problem
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros have a bullpen problem

By Carly Wimer  |  Last updated 4/3/24

Houston, we have a problem. 

It was no secret that the Houston Astros needed to prioritize their bullpen this offseason.

Houston has had one of the best bullpens in the majors in recent years, but it lost several key relievers to free agency this winter. 

Last season, Héctor Neris, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek combined to throw 185 innings, which was roughly one-third of Houston’s bullpen workload. Kendall Graveman, who pitched 22 1/3 innings for the Astros last year, is additionally out for the season after offseason shoulder surgery.

Houston lost a lot of innings from their bullpen that ranked sixth in ERA last season. The Astros’ solution to that problem was to sign the best reliever on the market, closer Josh Hader. But six games into the season and that strategy looks like it may not have been the wisest.

Hader, 29, is off to a rough start in Houston. He blew his first save opportunity as an Astro on Tuesday allowing two runs on two hits. Hader entered the ninth with a 1-0 lead before giving up a two-run homer to David Schneider which gave Toronto a 2-1 come-from-behind win.

The left-hander has allowed three runs on four hits with two walks in his first four innings this season. Hader is not alone, either. Ryan Pressly, the Astros’ closer since 2019, has struggled in his new set-up role. Both Tayler Scott and Parker Mushinski got rocked in their first two appearances. Even the normally reliable Bryan Abreu has allowed three runs on four hits in his first 2 1/3 innings of work.

The blown save on Tuesday was the latest late-inning collapse for the Astros, who fell to 1-5 on the season. 

Houston’s starters have pitched to a 1.46 ERA, compared to the 7.41 ERA out of the Astros’ bullpen.

Pressly, Abreu and Hader will likely work themselves out with time, but the lack of depth in the Astros’ bullpen draws serious questions.

Houston has to have their relievers step up beyond their top three guys to make up for the lack of depth in the middle innings. 

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