The Houston Astros consistently rank as one of the premier teams in Major League Baseball, a trend they’ve maintained over the last decade. Their continued success appears set to endure, thanks to their formidable abilities in all aspects of the game.
Houston’s impressive record stems from their balanced strengths. They excel in batting, matching the prowess of the league’s best, and their pitching. Their starters and relievers have demonstrated an exceptional capability to secure outs effectively.
However, their bullpen has room for improvement, specifically in increasing the presence of left-handed pitchers. Notably, during the previous season’s playoffs, the Astros’ bullpen did not include any left-handed pitchers, a rarity in modern baseball.
To address this gap, the Astros have various potential acquisitions to consider. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com singles out Matt Moore as a prime candidate. He notes that despite the Astros’ outstanding performance in 2023, they needed a dependable left-handed pitcher in their bullpen. Moore, coming off two successful seasons, might fill this void. Last year, his performance was notably better against right-handed batters (.623 OPS) than left-handers (.874 OPS). Moore’s previous season stats were impressive, with 52 2/3 innings pitched, a 2.56 ERA, and a 1.16 WHIP. His advanced metrics were equally commendable, showing above-average results in various categories like fastball run value, off-speed run value, expected ERA (xERA), expected batting average (xBA), chase percentage, and others, as per Baseball Savant.
These statistics suggest Moore is unlikely to experience significant performance regression, making him a desirable option for the Astros. If the team recognizes the absence of a left-handed pitcher in their bullpen as a shortfall last year, it’s reasonable to anticipate they will rectify this in the 2024 season.
In conclusion, the Houston Astros, a powerhouse in the baseball world, could bolster their already strong team by adding a left-handed reliever like Matt Moore to their bullpen. This move would address one of the areas needing improvement and elevate their performance in future seasons.