The Astros activated Jake Odorizzi to start today’s game against the A’s. To clear a roster spot, Seth Martinez has been optioned to Triple-A, per Jake Kaplan of the Athletic (via Twitter).
Odorizzi’s postseason role is not yet clear, but he can nonetheless provide value here in the waning days of the regular season. He should have two more starts to audition for playoff usage. The 31-year-old has tossed 96 innings with a 4.22 ERA/4.60 FIP, 21.3 percent strikeout rate, 7.7 percent walk rate, and 35.8 percent groundball rate.
Though the Astros have lost three in a row, they should clinch the AL West sometime in the next couple of days. They could clinch as early as today with a win over the A’s and a Mariners loss. Houston can begin to think ahead to setting up their playoff rotation for an ALDS showdown with the White Sox.
Martinez, 27, had just a cup of coffee, making three appearances this past week. After a pair of scoreless outings, Martinez was tagged for five earned runs his last time out against Oakland on Friday.
Times just about up for Odorizzi to show his worth. Could he possibly be left of the playoff roster
I don’t think he gets left off but he’ll probably be used out of the pen is my guess.
He really needs to show something today for consideration in any high leverage situation’s postseason.
If true, that’s pretty impressive.
I figured Odorizzi would get the ball in a game 4 for Houston. Particularly over Garcia. Even without a “true ace” or whatever, the Astros certainly have enough starting pitching to win a pennant.
Pretty good ballclub.
I’d say Grienke qualifies as a “true ace”
Throwing Odorizzi out there for 3-4 innings followed by 3-4 by Garcia is a nice option
Fair enough, @Rsox.
His stuff is pretty diminished from his peak. But yeah. Still a damn good pitcher. My favorite thing about Grienke is when he throws change ups harder than his fastball. That’s just so hard for me to wrap my head around.
Having diminished stuff doesn’t matter if you spin it, cut it, sink it, and locate it. Just look at Adam Wainwright, in the age of throwers Grienke and Wainwright are pitchers.
I like watching him throw, too.
But, I’m not talking about FB velocity or spin rates or whatever. Rather, I’m addressing how that lessening has effected his bottom line results: 4.11 ERA. It’s deserved too (FIP 4.69). Just look at his numbers across the board…6.02 K/9, 1.174 WHIP, etc.
He is still a good pitcher.
But an era+ of 104 seems about right as a quick & dirty synopsis. At this point, I can’t really look at him as an ace.
According to Fangraphs , with a WAR of 1.3 he isn’t considered an adequate every day player, let alone an “ace”. Barely above “scrub”.