Astros Tab Rookie AJ Blubaugh for AL Wild Card Game 1 as Hunter Brown Lines Up for Game 2
Updated
Updated · MLB.com · Sep 29
Astros Tab Rookie AJ Blubaugh for AL Wild Card Game 1 as Hunter Brown Lines Up for Game 2
3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Sep 29
Summary
Houston will open Tuesday’s AL Wild Card Series against the White Sox with rookie right-hander AJ Blubaugh, marking the franchise’s first rookie Game 1 starter in any postseason series.
Blubaugh is expected to work as an opener after throwing 15 relief pitches Friday, while ace Hunter Brown is set for Wednesday on normal rest and Hayden Wesneski is lined up for a possible Game 3.
The move reflects Houston’s pitching usage in a must-win finish: six pitchers covered Sunday’s 9-0 win over Oakland, leaving Peter Lambert and rookie Ethan Pecko unavailable for bulk innings Tuesday.
Blubaugh led the majors with 27 relief outings of at least two innings and 96 innings by a reliever this season, and he allowed no runs over 4 innings in three appearances against Chicago.
Houston’s rested bullpen could absorb much of Game 1, with Miguel Ullola, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader available, and left-hander Steven Okert still a roster possibility as he returns from a hamstring injury.