Inside the Astros

Astros Reveal Four More Members of Opening Day Roster, Bullpen

The Houston Astros have settled on four more members of the group that will comprise the team's Opening Day bullpen, including a member of the team's 2022 World Series roster.

Kyle Morton

Jul 23, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Rafael Montero (47) pitches during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Jul 23, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Rafael Montero (47) pitches during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. / Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
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The Houston Astros have one of the best closers in MLB in Josh Hader, and they boast an elite setup option on Bryan Abreu.

When spring training began, one of the biggest questions facing the team was which pitchers would step up to earn spots on the opening day roster behind that top-end duo and righty Tayler Scott.

On Sunday, the team settled on its options for four of the remaining five spots.

According to a post on X by Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Rafael Montero, Bryan King, Steven Okert and Luis Contreras will break camp with the Major League club.

Montero was a key member of the Astros' 2022 World Series team, as he posted 2.37 ERA in 71 appearances that season. He was subsequently signed to a long-term contract extension, and the following two years have not gone as well.

In 2023, Montero posted a 5.08 ERA in 68 appearances, and 2024 did not go much better for the native of the Dominican Republic has he appeared in 41 games with a 4.70 ERA.

Okert is a lefty specialist who spent last season with the Minnesota Twins, where he allowed a 5.09 ERA across 44 games. He earned his spot in Houston by going on a 10.2-inning scoreless streak this spring.

King shined when given the opportunity with the Astros in 2024, as he struck out 10.94 batters per nine innings while posting a 2.39 ERA.

Contreras has just five MLB appearances to his name, all with Houston last season, but like Okert, he went the entirety of spring training to this point without allowing a run.

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Kyle Morton
KYLE MORTON

Kyle Morton has covered various sports from amateur to professional level athletics. A graduate of Fordham University, Kyle specializes in MLB and NHL coverage while having previous bylines with SB Nation, The Hockey Writers, HighSchoolOT, and Sports World News. He spent time working the beat for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and is an avid fan of the NHL, MLB, NFL and college basketball. Enjoys the outdoors and hiking in his free time away from sports.

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