The Astros are opening October with a bullpen-first look. Rookie right-hander AJ Blubaugh will take the ball Tuesday as Houston’s opener for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the White Sox at Daikin Park.
Houston’s route back to the postseason came with a heavy pitching workload over the final weekend, and the Game 1 plan reflects it. Blubaugh worked two-thirds of an inning Friday against the Athletics, throwing 15 pitches and allowing one run.
Quick facts
- Game 1 is Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. CT, airing on NBC, Peacock and NBCSN.
- AJ Blubaugh will open for Houston against Chicago.
- Hunter Brown is lined up for Wednesday’s Game 2 on regular rest.
- Hayden Wesneski would be positioned for a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday.
- Blubaugh made 27 relief appearances of at least two innings during the regular season.
Blubaugh logged a career-high 96 innings, more than any other Major League reliever this season. His 27 outings of two-plus innings matched the most by an Astros pitcher since Dave Veres reached that number in 1995, though Blubaugh went beyond two innings only five times.
The White Sox have seen him three times this year without doing any damage. Across four innings, Blubaugh gave up four hits and two walks, struck out three and did not allow a run.
Brown, Houston’s ace right-hander, is scheduled to handle Game 2 on Wednesday. If the series reaches a third game, right-hander Hayden Wesneski is the expected option Thursday.
Relief corps has most of its arms available
The Astros used six pitchers to finish Sunday’s 9-0 clinching win over the Athletics in West Sacramento. That game had to be won for Houston to secure its playoff berth, and it left a couple of potential bulk-inning choices unavailable for Tuesday.
Peter Lambert threw 41 pitches over two innings on two days’ rest Sunday, taking the win. Rookie Ethan Pecko added three scoreless innings on 34 pitches, putting both pitchers out of the running for a long Game 1 assignment.
Most of the relief group is otherwise fresh. Miguel Ullola threw 18 pitches Sunday, while Bryan Abreu has not appeared since Thursday and closer Josh Hader has been idle since Wednesday. All three could factor into the opener arrangement behind Blubaugh.
Houston may also have left-hander Steven Okert back in the mix after a hamstring injury kept him out during the final two weeks of the regular season. Okert traveled with the club to West Sacramento and has been throwing bullpen sessions.
Manager Joe Espada said Okert was due to throw from a mound again Monday, but cautioned that the club had not made a final decision. Houston will announce its Wild Card Series roster Tuesday morning.
