HOUSTON -- The midseason trades for Roberto Osuna and Ryan Pressly bolstered the Astros' bullpen down the stretch, but adding starter-turned-reliever Lance McCullers Jr. to the 'pen has expanded the way manager AJ Hinch can use some of his other key relievers.
Hinch said he would be relying on Osuna, Pressly and McCullers interchangeably to get the final six outs in close games in the postseason. In Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Friday, Hinch used those three to cover the final 3 2/3 innings of a 7-2 victory over the Indians.