Bullpen’s recent run not ideal; Rangers to be first foe in 2018
ANAHEIM, Calif. — After their utterly miserable weekend in Oakland, the Astros’ bullpen ranks among the bottom third of the majors in ERA.
The Astros relievers’ combined 4.48 ERA coming into Tuesday ranked 21st, worse than even rebuilding teams like the Padres (4.32), White Sox (4.38) and Phillies (4.46). Narrow the sample to the second half of the season only, and the Astros fare even worse. Their 5.16 bullpen ERA since the All-Star break ranks 25th.
Naturally, a not insignificant concentration of the runs scored against Astros relievers recently have come against those who won’t be on their postseason roster.
But that covers far from all of them.
Luke Gregerson has a 5.48 ERA and five home runs allowed in 211 innings of the second half. Chris Devenski has allowed five homers in 212⁄3 innings in the same span. Francisco Liriano has a 6.10 ERA in 101⁄3 innings since he joined the Astros on Aug. 1.
Tyler Clippard, who’s vying for one of the last couple of postseason roster spots, has allowed a run or more in five of his last six outings. Francis Martes, who also has a chance, has been a model of inconsistency. Michael Feliz has all but pitched himself off the October roster. His five-run blowup Saturday inflated his ERA to 5.87.
The Astros’ bullpen should look more formidable when narrowed to seven or eight members for the American League Division Series and especially once Brad Peacock makes his long-expected return to a relief role. But even some of those in line for October innings come attached with question marks, making the bullpen the team’s most vulnerable area entering the regular season’s final three weeks.