The Houston Astros are in the 2025 MLB regular season's final weeks as the start of this year's postseason looms on Sept. 30. A healthy roster is crucial if any team, including the Astros, wants to challenge for a World Series title, which is why Houston fans are wondering if any of the club's injured contributors will be healthy to play by October.
Relief pitchers Caleb Ort (elbow) and Bennett Sousa (elbow) are among the Astros' players currently on the injury list, leaving time to tell if they'll be ready for the postseason. Houston general manager Dana Brown provided an update on the banged-up duo on Sunday; however, his response likely isn't what Astros fans hoped to hear.
Astros' Caleb Ort, Bennett Sousa Could Be Out for Rest of Season
During Sunday's interview with SportsTalk 790 (h/t @Chandler_Rome), Brown revealed that Ort returning in the playoffs is the "best-case scenario for his situation." The Astros GM added that Sousa has found himself in a "very similar situation," leaving both relievers' immediate outlook up in the air.
No matter how one looks at it, Brown's update is far from encouraging. Ort and Sousa potentially returning in the postseason as the best-case scenario suggests that the duo likely won't be healed by the end of the month. On top of that, the Astros GM didn't even clarify which round the relief hurlers could be returning in, meaning it might take a deep postseason run for either man to see some fall action.
Besides, even if Ort and Sousa are good to go in the playoffs, will the Astros feel confident enough to play them? Baseball is one of the most superstitious sports out there, and Houston manager Joe Espada might not want to throw a recently returned pitcher into a crucial game, especially if a series is on the line.
Depending on how long the Astros' playoff run lasts, they may decide to shut the pair down for the season so that they can get a head start on prepping for spring training.
Ort and Sousa have both played big roles in the Astros' bullpen this season, having pitched 49 and 44 games, respectively, as of Sunday afternoon. Ort's performance has been a rollercoaster to the tune of a 4.89 ERA; however, his play has recently turned around by allowing zero earned runs in 15 of his last 18 outings. Meanwhile, Sousa has been stellar all year with a 2.84 ERA, four saves, and 59 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings.
With four World Series appearances and two victories since 2018, the Astros know how crucial relief pitching is at this time of the season. Hopefully, Ort and Sousa return sooner rather than later to be a part of where the MLB playoffs take Houston this fall.