The Houston Astros faced a challenging game against the Cleveland Guardians, relying heavily on their bullpen due to the unavailability of key relievers Bryan King and Bryan Abreu. Hunter Brown took the mound and initially thrived, pitching five scoreless innings before struggling in the sixth, where he allowed four runs. Steven Okert, who stepped in to contain the Guardians' lineup, managed to navigate a bases-loaded situation but ultimately gave up a grand slam, highlighting his mixed performance this season.

Shawn Dubin followed, showing resilience after conceding a crucial home run to José Ramírez, allowing the Astros to stay competitive. In the extra innings, the Astros' bullpen showcased its depth, with Bennett Sousa securing a save despite throwing just 18 pitches and demonstrating impressive strikeout potential. The game exemplified the Astros' ability to adapt under pressure while underlining their bullpen’s integral role in maintaining their winning record.

The Houston Astros faced a disappointing 13-3 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays, marked by a disastrous seventh inning. Despite the Astros' bullpen entering the game with the second-best ERA in the majors, Bryan King allowed five runs in one third of an inning, ballooning his ERA to 3.38. The Astros, who started strong, quickly fell behind due to their pitchers issuing six walks and hitting three batters.

The Rays continued their impressive run, scoring 11 runs off the Astros' bullpen, following a solid performance by starter Ryan Gusto. In a stark contrast, Houston managed only eight hits and struggled to convert opportunities, leaving runners stranded. Jose Altuve provided a bright spot with a home run, but the Astros ultimately couldn't keep pace with the Rays’ potent offense, which capitalized on every mistake.

Recent analysis highlights the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals as the sneakiest teams in Major League Baseball, showing exceptional skills in both slider pitching and base stealing. The Cubs and Royals both ranked consistently high with an average score of 3.5 over the last three years.

Pitchers like Bryan King from the Houston Astros showcased stellar slider performance, while base stealers such as Leody Taveras of the Texas Rangers and Tyler Tolbert of the Kansas City Royals have been leading the charge on the bases. Teams like the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets also ranked well, rounding out the top five in this fascinating look at MLB's under-the-radar talents.

The Houston Astros face a pivotal offseason after their earliest playoff exit in eight years. General manager Dana Brown is open to all options for roster improvement, particularly focusing on the bullpen, which had mixed results this season.

Despite high expectations for their relief pitchers, the Astros ranked low in key metrics like ERA and blown saves. Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly, and Bryan Abreu were the standout performers, but the team struggled to maintain leads.

As they prepare for 2024, the Astros must find ways to ease the workload on their top relievers and explore potential additions to strengthen the bullpen.