In yesterday’s game against the Rangers, the Astros, down one run in the right inning, turned to rookie relievers Parker Mushinski and Ronel Blanco. Dusty Baker had little choice, as the bullpen had been exhausted in recent games.
But not the entire bullpen. Not Pedro Báez, who hasn’t made an appearance since April 19.
The veteran righty remained in the bullpen as Mushinski and Blanco allowed three runs combined, sealing the Rangers’ 6-2 victory.
When the Astros signed Báez to a 2-year, $12.5 million deal in January 2021, it made sense. The ex-Dodgers hurler had been one of baseball’s most consistent relievers since debuting in 2014, amassing 356 innings across 7 seasons in Los Angeles, finishing his tenure there with a fairly remarkable 3.