The Houston Astros have struggled with injuries throughout the season, and unfortunately, that doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon. According to Chandler Rome of The athleteThe Astros placed Ryan Pressly on the 15-day injured list on Saturday with a lower back strain.
Pressly, who had to take on a different role after the team signed Josh Hader in the offseason, was still a key part of the bullpen. He wasn’t as dominant as he had been in years past, posting his highest ERA since 2017 and tying for the highest WHIP of his career, but he was needed given the injuries Houston has been battling.
Head coach Joe Espada didn’t seem too concerned about the injury, telling reporters on Saturday that he didn’t think it was too serious.
“I don’t think it’s serious,” manager Joe Espada said Saturday afternoon. “We just decided to give him some time to heal and then he can get back on the field.”
The Astros have been playing excellent baseball lately, going 9-1 in their last 10 games. However, the next month and a half will be the most important part of the season, and Pressly will be needed at some point.
Although they are four games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West, Houston knows more than anyone that four games is not a big lead.
Fortunately, Hader has been untouchable over the past few weeks, a very promising sign for the Astros as they look to secure a postseason spot.
Espada understands that Hader won’t be able to pitch every game, so this will give some others in the bullpen a chance to prove they belong on the roster in October.
“There are going to be some games where Abreu and Hader aren’t going to be available, so it would be great if we could get some of those guys to keep throwing the ball like they have been,” Espada said.
Many players in the bullpen are fighting for the chance to pitch in key moments, and this injury opens up even more opportunities for them. But Pressly, a veteran who has been in more pressure situations than many relievers in the game, will need to come back for Houston to have the rest of the season it wants.
Hopefully, this is nothing serious, as Espada believes, and the Astros can get their reliable bullpen player back in the near future. As long as he’s healthy in October, they should be in a good position.
