Injured Astros right-hander Brad Peacock has spent almost the whole season as a starter, but he may shift back to his old bullpen role when he returns. The Astros are “gearing” Peacock’s rehab that way, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic tweets.
The 31-year-old Peacock was among the Astros’ most useful starters before he landed on the shelf June 28 with shoulder discomfort. In 15 appearances and 80 2/3 innings as a starter this season, Peacock has posted a 4.24 ERA/4.32 FIP with 9.15 K/9 against 2.57 BB/9. The plan was for Peacock to return to Houston’s rotation sometime in July, but he suffered a setback midway through the month. As of two-plus weeks ago, the Astros’ hope was Peacock would come back around the midpoint of August.
Thanks in part to Peacock’s lack of availability, the Astros made other rotation arrangements at last week’s trade deadline. They pulled in two big-name starters – the ace-caliber Zack Greinke from the Diamondbacks and what they hope is a revived Aaron Sanchez from the Blue Jays. With those two and Wade Miley behind the all-world tandem of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, the Astros no longer need any help in their starting staff.
Fortunately for talent-packed Houston, Peacock is just a year removed from a valuable campaign out of its bullpen. He totaled 63 1/3 frames in 60 appearances as a reliever in 2018 and notched a 3.55 ERA/3.54 FIP with 13.36 K/9 and 2.84 BB/9. Peacock did have a tough time with opposite-handed hitters, which has typically been the case, but he has been lights-out against righties.
He’s fine as a starter, but probably more valuable as a long reliever (especially in the playoffs). Any one of Verlander, Cole, Greinke, or Miley for 6 innings followed by 3 innings of Peacock. Should be perfect as Peacock is typically at his best the first time through the lineup.
Duh
Houston is probably the best balanced team in baseball, provided they stay healthy. Peacock gives them a great swing man( #5 or long relief ) high leveraged situations.
Good call. Get him ready for a bullpen role. The Greinke deal meant Peacock would be pushed to the bullpen in October, if healthy.
Houston, we have a problem. Either today or tomorrow I expect Pressly to be activated and Stubbs to be returned to AAA. At that point the team will have the management prefered 12 position players, 5 starters, and 8 relievers. The relievers would be Osuna, Pressly, Harris, McHugh, Rondon, Devenski, Biagini, and Smith. If Peacock is to return, who does he replace?
Stop with “Houston, we have a problem” crap.
Thanks. Problem solved.
Gotta be McHugh. He’s just not reliable anymore. Not sure if he can reject an assignment or not though if he has options remaining.
McHugh doesn’t have any options left- if he were to go, it’d be via DFA. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was McHugh. Devenski has options, but he’s been pitching very well as of late, so I doubt he’d get moved down. The other option would be to DFA Hector Rondon, who has also been pretty bad this year.
Joe Smith has pitched in 8 total games this season and is on the last year of his contract. I could see him going too.
My money is on them sending Devo down. It would only be for a couple of weeks until September call ups and he has options. If it’s a problem, it’s a good one to have.
Houston, we have a problem…..Yankees are a better team! With a better future!!
I didn’t realize this was a comedy site.
Yankees MAY have a better future. Time will tell.
There is no way the Yankees are a better team right now.
I didn’t realize this was a comedy site.
Yankees MAY have a better future. Time will tell.
There is no way the Yankees are a better team right now.