The Houston Astros are dealing with a bullpen crisis that goes deeper than the numbers suggest. Losing Josh Hader for what’s likely the rest of the regular season exposed problems that were already brewing, and now those issues are front and center.
Without Hader anchoring the ninth inning, Houston’s relief corps has been one of baseball’s worst units since the All-Star break. But here’s what makes this situation particularly concerning – it’s not just about workload.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic addressed whether the Astros’ bullpen is more heavily taxed with Hader sidelined. While usage has increased, Rome points to a less visible problem that’s wearing down Houston’s relievers.
“Innings pitched and appearances do not tell an entire story, though. The amount a reliever warms up in the bullpen is important, as are the instances when he gets loose and isn’t used in a game. Some Houston relievers are feeling the effects of both circumstances, perhaps contributing to the performance.”
That’s the hidden factor here. Every time a pitcher gets up and starts throwing in the bullpen, he’s putting stress on his arm – whether he enters the game or not. The constant up-and-down routine, the false alarms, the getting ready only to sit back down. It all adds up.
The Astros’ bullpen ranks just 12th in innings pitched since the All-Star break, so on paper, they’re not being overworked compared to other teams. But that physical wear from all the warming up sessions is taking its toll.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Since the second half began, Houston’s bullpen has been bottom-five in baseball. The team’s posted a 5.03 ERA over the last 30 days, with the relief corps shouldering much of the blame.
What makes this worse is the lack of offensive support. When you’re not scoring runs consistently, every mistake from the bullpen gets magnified. There’s no margin for error when you’re trying to protect slim leads or keep games close.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Houston. They’re clinging to a 1.5-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, and bullpen woes down the stretch can sink division hopes in a hurry.
It’s one thing to lose your closer – that’s manageable if you have depth. But when the entire relief unit starts breaking down from the constant preparation and pressure, that’s when things get dicey.
The Astros need to find answers quickly. Whether that means adjusting how they manage their bullpen usage or finding ways to get more length from their starters, something has to give. Otherwise, they might watch the Mariners overtake them when it matters most.
