Hunter Brown is ready!
It took him only 55 pitches to go four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, no walks, with six strikeouts.
Unfortunately, another arm, one the Astros are depending on to replace Ryan Pressly, Tayler Scott, threw batting practice today, allowing a grand slam after surrendering two hits. He was surprising last year, but was he a one-season wonder? Who pitches in front of Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader, both of whom had scoreless innings today, remains a wide-open competition.
One surprise entrant in the bullpen sweepstakes is 33-year-old lefty Steven Okert. He struck out the side today and in seven innings pitched this Spring has not allowed a hit with 10 Ks.