Houston is throwing rookie right-hander AJ Blubaugh onto the mound to open Game 1 of their wild-card series against the White Sox on Tuesday, and get this: it’s gonna be a full-on bullpen game. This isn’t just a quirky choice, it’s a necessary gamble after they clinched the AL West in their regular-season finale on Sunday, leaving their pitching staff on a super quick turnaround. Manager Joe Espada didn’t mince words, flat out saying, “it’ll be a bullpen day” for the series opener.
Blubaugh: The Untraditional Wild Card Opener
Talk about an unexpected move. Blubaugh didn’t make a single regular-season start, yet he led the majors with a staggering 96 relief innings this season, rocking a 3.66 ERA. The guy’s a workhorse out of the pen, throwing multiple innings in 37 of his 64 appearances. We’re not talking about a quick one-and-done here; Houston is clearly looking for some real length from him, even as an “opener.” His longest outing this year was 3⅔ innings way back on May 3, though his late-season usage saw him in shorter, higher-leverage spots. After August 1, his highest pitch count was 32. The hope is Blubaugh can bridge the gap, saving their bulk-innings guys for later and setting up their late-game arms.
The Bullpen Carousel and Roster Headaches
This bullpen strategy is a direct consequence of the Astros’ tight schedule and their need to manage their rotation. Crucially, it allows their ace, Hunter Brown, to take the mound for Game 2 on regular rest. If the series goes to a Game 3, Hayden Wesneski is slated to pitch, also on regular rest. The good news for Houston is their highest-leverage relievers are relatively fresh: closer Josh Hader last pitched Wednesday, giving him five full days of rest. Setup man Bryan Abreu last threw Thursday, and Blubaugh himself last worked Friday. However, Ethan Pecko, who’s been a key bulk reliever, tossed three innings on Sunday, making him likely unavailable for Game 1. Peter Lambert also threw two innings on Sunday on just two days’ rest, so he’s out for a traditional start but could be a long-relief option later in the series.
The roster isn’t just about rest, though; injuries are playing a big part. Cristian Javier is completely ineligible for the wild-card roster because of a 15-day injured list stint for a right groin strain. They need to finalize that pitching staff by Tuesday morning. And then there’s the question marks: Mike Burrows, who ended the season on the IL but is healthy and throwing bullpens, might be a long relief option in the postseason, even if he’s not built up to a starter’s workload. Key lefty reliever Steven Okert missed the entire final month with a hamstring strain. He threw a bullpen Monday, but Espada wouldn’t get into specifics on whether he’s a possibility for the roster, saying they’re “working through a bunch of things.” This is a tricky spot for Houston, no doubt.
First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. Pacific time. This series is starting with a bang, and you know Houston is counting on every arm in that bullpen to get them through. Can Blubaugh hold down the fort and set the tone, or will this gamble be too much too soon? Game 2 looms with Hunter Brown, but they gotta get through Game 1 first.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply