Bryan

Abreu

After Bryan Abreu threw 44 pitches combined between appearances on Monday and Tuesday, the Astros called on King to close out the Rangers and complete this sweep. He got his four outs on just 14 pitches and made it look easy against the bottom of their lineup.

Abreu was summoned in the eighth inning to protect a two-run lead with a runner on and two outs. He issued a walk and gave up a base hit to bring a run in for the Rangers before getting out of the jam. Abreu then worked around two base hits in the ninth, striking out two batters to close out the game with his seventh save of the season to go with a 2.37 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 68 1/3 innings.

A leadoff single was erased on a double-play ball, but another rally started with a walk and a single before Cody Freeman grounded out to end the game. In spite of all of the action, Abreu threw just 12 pitches, so he should be ready to work again Tuesday.

Abreu avenged his blown save from Tuesday night to close out the Blue Jays here. He’s had a rocky two weeks allowing eight earned runs over his last four outings, but it’s clear the Astros are still relying on him to be their unquestioned closer.

Abreu struck out two batters in the ballgame. He came on with a 3-1 lead to protect but got himself into trouble early by issuing a leadoff walk to Alejandro Kirk. After striking out Addison Barger, he allowed a single to Ernie Clement and then walked Davis Schneider to load the bases. Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed with a game-tying, two-run single. Abreu retired the next two hitters to escape further trouble, but the damage had already been done. Even with this rough outing though, the 28-year-old hurler still sports a strong 2.49 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 100/29 K/BB ratio over 65 innings. He remains the best bet for save chances in the Astros’ bullpen.

It’s the second time this season Abreu has allowed three runs. Typically one of baseball’s best relievers, he gave up four hits for the first time and two walks for the third time. The hits were all singles that came consecutively with one out. The last of them, scoring the first and second runs, was a 330-foot fly to right that Cam Smith should have caught but struggled to get to while dealing with the wall. The walks came afterwards, with the second forcing in a run. That Abreu has worked three times in four days and threw 28 pitches tonight will probably make him unavailable on Sunday. A Craig Kimbrel seems unlikely but not impossible.

Abreu got the call to close out the game for the second day in a row despite Houston’s addition of Craig Kimbrel. He took the mound with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and tossed a clean frame, striking out one batter for his third save of the season to go with a 1.52 ERA across 59 1/3 innings.

When Abreu is on like this, it’s scary for opposing hitters. He entered this game with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning and struck out Colton Cowser with four straight sliders to end the threat. Then, he hit Coby Mayo to start the ninth and struck out the next three batters he faced. He forced eight swings-and-misses on 10 total swings and is asserting himself as one of the best closers in the league now that he has taken that role in Houston.

The 28-year-old right-hander once again functioned in a traditional closer’s capacity, pitching in the bottom of the ninth inning in a tied game on the road. While he kept the Tigers at bay and got the game to the 10th, the Astros were unable to score a run to put him in line for a victory. Abreu has been terrific this season, registering a 1.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and an 84/25 K/BB ratio over 57 innings while securing one save and three victories.

Hader elaborated that it would take him at least three weeks to build up his arm strength and stamina following a three-week shutdown, which doesn’t leave any time for him to return before the regular season wraps up in exactly six weeks. The 31-year-old All-Star closer hit the injured list earlier this week with a left shoulder strain. It’s a brutal development for managers heading into the fantasy playoffs, but it’s a positive update that he won’t require surgery. His extended absence elevates Bryan Abreu to the closer role in Houston with Bennett Sousa likely to vulture the occasional save chance.