Houston Astros Could Claim Bullpen Help on Waivers

Three different relievers could be available to the Houston Astros when waivers open up on Thursday.

The Houston Astros have had an overtaxed bullpen for much of the past two months. Thanks to some unexpected moves around Major League Baseball, help could be on the way.

Several veteran players are headed to the waiver wire on Thursday, per both ESPN and The Athletic.

The list include five Los Angeles Angels — starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, relievers Matt Moore and Reynaldo López, and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk. Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader, Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco, White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger and Tigers pitcher José Cisnero.

It’s a bushel of talent, especially in the bullpen, a place where the Astros could use reinforcements.

Six different Astros relievers have at least 50 appearances this season — Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris, Ryan Pressly, Phil Maton, Rafael Montero and Ryne Stanek. Maton just returned from the injured list.

The Astros will have to wait to make a move. The waiver order is based on reverse record (or, team with the worst record goes first). The Astros will be at the mercy of other playoff contenders that have similar needs.

But of the relievers currently set for the waiver wire, none is more enticing to a team like Houston than Moore, who pitched for the Astros’ rival, the Texas Rangers, last season.

In 2022 with the Rangers he went 5-2 with a 1.95 ERA. He also recorded the first five saves of his career. The Rangers opted not to re-sign him and he migrated to the Angels, where he continued to be a nuisance to hitters. He had a 3-1 record and a 2.30 ERA in 40 appearances.

But what if the Astros can’t get to Moore? The other relievers offers possibilities but may come with more risk.

López (2-7, 3.86) was traded to the Angels along with Giolito last month and he’s improved since he joined the Angels — a 2.31 ERA in 12 games and 11.2 innings, striking out 19 and walking six. He’s a right-hander, but he’s pitching well at the right time.

Cisnero may be worth a claim, but the Tigers right-hander is not having a good a year. He’s 2-4 with a 5.36 ERA in 54 games. He’s struck out 56 in 48.2 innings and walked 20.

Claiming him would mean the Astros are counting on Cisnero reclaiming his form from 2020-22, also with the Tigers. In that three-years pan, he threw more than 100 innings, struck out 119 and had an opponent batting average close to .200.