Houston Astros reliever Josh Hader was sidelined back in February due to biceps tendinitis, and the team is feeling his absence. Hader, a key figure in the Astros' bullpen, won't be back until at least mid-April, with the possibility of his absence extending into May.
In Hader's absence, Astros manager Joe Espada handed the closing duties to Bryan Abreu, a move that’s proving to be quite the gamble. Abreu has only managed 1⅓ innings over two appearances, and his performance has been shaky.
In a recent game, despite a 9-6 lead in the ninth inning, Abreu nearly let it slip away. After replacing AJ Blubaugh, he walked Adam Frazier, threw a wild pitch, and then walked Mike Trout following a flyout by Zach Neto.
Espada then called on Bryan King, who allowed an RBI single to Nolan Schanuel, trimming the Astros' lead to 9-7. However, King steadied the ship with back-to-back strikeouts of Jo Adell and Yoán Moncada, securing the save and a series split against LA.
The Astros' bullpen has been under pressure without Hader. Houston's relievers were tasked with covering 18 innings in their opening series against the Halos, with King featuring in three out of four games.
Among the relievers, AJ Blubaugh stood out, pitching 4⅓ innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Kai-Wei Teng also delivered, allowing just one hit and striking out two over 2⅓ innings.
However, Bryan Abreu, Christian Roa, Ryan Weiss, and Roddery Muñoz struggled to find their rhythm. The starters' inability to go deep into games didn’t help, and Espada is likely concerned with the early performance of his bullpen.
Houston faces a dilemma with their relief options. King, Blubaugh, and Teng have been the most reliable but have minor-league options remaining.
Roa could be sent down easily, but if Muñoz doesn’t improve, the Astros would need to offer him back to the Cincinnati Reds, as he was a Rule 5 Draft pick. Weiss can also be optioned back, but the Astros have been relying on arms like Blubaugh, Teng, and Weiss for their ability to handle multiple innings.
Right now, the bullpen's high-leverage, one-inning specialists are struggling.
It’s early in the season, so there’s no need for panic just yet. However, without Hader, Espada might need to experiment with his bullpen roles. Moving Blubaugh to the closer role might seem reactionary, but if Abreu falters again, Espada could be forced to reconsider his options.