Relief in sight
» The final spot in the bullpen has come down to two candidates.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The race for the Astros’ final bullpen spot is down to two candidates.
Lefthander Cionel Perez was among the nine players reassigned to minor league camp on Tuesday, eliminating him from consideration for the opening-day relief corps.
Because Perez did not start his throwing program until late in the offseason, the 22-year-old Cuban began spring training behind all other relievers.
Perez appeared in just two Grapefruit League games prior to his reassignment, one predicated more on his long-term development than shortterm aid to the major league club.
“We feel like it’s more important for him developmentally to get regular work in the initial part of the season,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We think he’s going to pitch in the big leagues this year, most likely out of the bullpen.
“But given our needs in the (bullpen) and how it’s shaping up, we had guys ahead of him, so we decided to make the decisions today.”
Perez’s departure leaves southpaws Reymin Guduan and Framber Valdez as the leading candidates to snatch the final spot in Houston’s openingday bullpen.
Guduan appears the likely choice. The Astros have an all-righthanded bullpen returning and presumably want a lefthanded presence.
Though he has had two suspect stints in the majors, Guduan has harnessed his inconsistent command in spring training.
He has struck out 12 in 81⁄3 Grapefruit League innings with two walks. His fastball can reside in the high 90s, and he has a filthy putaway slider.
Valdez, meanwhile, remains in competition with Brad Peacock to open the season in the starting rotation. Hinch reiterated Tuesday that Peacock is the “leading candidate” to win that battle.
Whether Valdez’s iffy command and pitch-tocontact arsenal translates into the bullpen is in question. So, too, is his longterm projectability for the season ahead. It stands to reason that the 25-year-old lefty could be more valuable as a spot starter stowed away in the minor leagues, thereby requiring his being built up through a stint there.
Storms shuffle pitching plans
Thunderstorms Tuesday morning “blew up every plan” the Astros employed for their pitching staff for the final week of spring training.
The club’s Grapefruit League game against the Phillies at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches was canceled, forcing manager A.J. Hinch to reconfigure the schedule for his probable starting rotation.
Gerrit Cole, who was scheduled to start Tuesday’s game, will throw a two- or three-inning simulated game on Wednesday. Wade Miley will start Wednesday’s major league game against the Yankees in West Palm Beach, while Collin McHugh will throw in a minor league game on the back fields.
Cole has two outings remaining during spring. One was always scheduled to be a lighter load, Hinch said. Rain forced it to come Wednesday.
Keeping McHugh on regular rest to continue building him up is paramount, too. He missed a turn in the spring rotation with back stiffness and has thrown only 52⁄3 innings in Grapefruit League play.
Throwing McHugh in a minor league game will ensure he pitches at least four innings and accrues at least 60 pitches, Hinch said.