Should Tony Sipp Be The Next Houston Astros Closer?

The Houston Astros don’t win many games. When they have the chance to win games, their bullpen has blown it. The one or two times a week the Astros do decide to play well, their bullpen decides not too. It’s not a great recipe for success.

There is no secret the Astros need help in their bullpen. Injuries have carved up what was supposed to be a solid bullpen. Matt Albers has a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings this season, but he will be missing the next 3-4 weeks while he recovers from tendinitis. Anthony Bass, who is tied for the team lead with two saves, also just went down with a strained intercostal muscle and he was just placed on the 15-day DL. Jose Cisnero was cut to just 4.2 innings as he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week. Jesse Crain has yet to throw a pitch this season.

Other younger pitchers haven’t performed as well as expected. Josh Fields has a 12.00 ERA in 12 innings, and was only recently called back up due to a lack of bullpen arms. Lefties Kevin Chapman and Raul Valdes each had a 12.27 ERA in 3.2 innings earlier this season and they are no longer on the 25-man roster. Paul Clemens and Josh Zeid have been less than spectacular so far this season.