Call to the pen
Fansided

Houston Astros Need Contingency Plan for Luke Gregorson

By Josh Sippie

facebooktwitterreddit

Luke Gregerson blew a save for the Houston Astros against the bottom-feeding Oakland A’s. That kind of thing happens. Very rarely do you find a closer who is untouchable. But Gregerson is having quite a bit of troubles lately and the blown safe merely brings more attention to it.

More from Call to the Pen

Gregerson is currently maintaining his highest ERA in his career at 3.60. His WHIP is the highest it has been in three years as are his H/9. Gregerson’s 1.1 HR/9 is the highest it has ever been as well. All things considered, Luke Gregerson may not be the brick wall ninth inning guy that the Houston Astros had hoped they would get.

And it is only getting worse.

In his past seven appearances, Gregerson has pitched 6.1 innings, only converted two saves, and has surrendered 11 hits, four earned runs, four walks, four strikeouts and a very high 2.37 WHIP. Those kinds of numbers do not instill fear in the opposition when they reach the ninth inning. They instill hope.

In the past, the Houston Astros have had a history of bullpen problems. Their closer situation has been in far worse condition than it is now. It was not that long ago that the Astros succumbed to over 20 losses from their bullpen alone. Therefore any sort of perceived weakness in the bullpen is going to bring back bad memories in the Space City.

Gregerson spoke to reporters after the Astros were linked to several closers at the deadline, stating that his confidence was not shaken and that he is more assured in his own abilities than ever. However, his latest performances leave some questions.

The Houston Astros have to have a back up plan, a contingency plan, if you will. If they want to remain contenders they have to have a solid ninth inning guy. Luke Gregorson may very well be able to regain his previous form, but they have to prepare for the worst case scenario. They have to have something to fall back on.

The best way to do this is to give someone else a shot at closer for a few games. This will serve a couple of purposes.

First of all, it will give the Houston Astros a good indication of who else in the organization could fulfill the closer role. It will give that individual some experience in the role just in case Gregerson does crumble and fall.

Secondly, it will let Luke Gregerson know that he needs to step up his game and dig deep to find his best stuff. These are games that the Houston Astros need to be winning if they want to achieve their improbable dream of reaching the playoffs.

So the question then becomes who the Astros could look to in this situation. There are basically only three people that have been dominant enough to be considered.

The first of those guys is Pat Neshek. Neshek has been a set-up guy for the Astros to get them to Luke Gregerson. The bizarre-throwing righty has put up some solid numbers on the year, with a team-low .80 WHIP, a 2.83 ERA and just six home runs surrendered in 41.1 innings pitched. He is an incredibly useful tool out of the pen and could convert that success to a closer role, although he has very little experience at such a role in his career.

Will Harris is another candidate. The surprising right-hander has the best ERA in the Astros bullpen at 1.64 and his .91 WHIP stands right up there with Pat Neshek. He maintains excellent control as well. The problem is that aside from Luke Gregorson, Will Harris has had the worst past seven games among the Astros’ relievers.

The last candidate is Josh Fields. Fields has a tumultuous history with the Houston Astros, but this season has been as conclusive as can be. With a 2.43 ERA, .95 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 37 innings, Fields has been the dominant pitcher he was always meant to be. Not only that, but he has a history at closer as well, although not a very good one, statistically. 

More from Houston Astros

In his last seven games, Fields has been untouchable: 6.0 innings, two hits and five strikeouts. And that is it. Fields has had problems with control in the past but this year appears to be different.

Of all the candidates, Fields should be given the first look because of the potential upside and the experience he has at the role. Although it may just be a case of him not being cut out for the closer role.

Whatever the case, the Houston Astros need to prepare for the worst. Craig Kimbrel would have been the perfect acquisition but a deal could not be made.

More from Call to the Pen

Home/Houston Astros