Houston Astros: Top 30 players in franchise history

14. Billy Wagner, P, 1995 – 2003

Billy Wagner is the best pitcher to ever close games for the Houston Astros. He had a wicked fastball-slider combination that, at it’s best, was unhittable. Wagner earned the closing role as a rookie and never gave it up.

At his peak, he had sub 2.00 ERA, struck out 15 batters per nine innings, and would approach 40 saves. His career high in saves is 44. He remains the most consistently dominant reliever in Astros history and ended his career with over 400 saves.

Wagner wasn’t the first pure pitcher to finish games but he was the most dominant. For instance, in 1999, he struck out nearly half of the 286 batters he faced. That is an insane ratio and one that is nearly impossible to reach.

He reached three All-Star games in his career as well as picking up some Cy Young votes a couple of times in his career. Wagner also received MVP votes multiple times in his career which is virtual insanity for a reliever. Wagner will forever be one of the most dominant closers in baseball history.