Entering the postseason, the Astros bullpen was rightly labeled the club’s x-factor. The relief staff’s struggles were endlessly written about during the regular season, and even after additions were made to it at the trade deadline, it was difficult to instill confidence in a reliably inconsistent collection of relievers. But now, what used to be the Achilles’ heel of the Astros has unexpectedly evolved into an indispensable unit the club cannot do without. Providing 7 2⁄3 scoreless innings in a must-win playoff game warrants such praise.
Game 4 may as well have been do-or-die for the Astros.