The result of what Washington did is they have no idea who's going to start tomorrow. If they had saved Scherzer, they could run him out there tomorrow, Corbin in game 4 (3 days' rest), and Strasburg in Game 5 on regular rest. Now they have a mess on their hands in game 3, which may cost them the whole series. It's something you do if you're the desperate underdog (and have an absurdly terrible bullpen) - not if you're the overwhelming favorite. If you're the Astros, you trust what you've done all season long.
I wouldn't be surprised if they go to Pressly or Harris for one game, but I think Osuna is the primary closer. People forget with the Giles fiasco that he was called in for several 2 inning saves in that 2017 playoff run, and routinely dominated the first of those two innings before struggling in inning 2 (before finally collapsing all around in the WS). I think the Astros have to go back to the 1-inning closer rather than risking a meltdown with Osuna.
Mariano Rivera is not on this team or any team. Astros got to Kimbrel, Chapman, and Jansen in their 2017 run. This stuff happens against playoff teams. Osuna will be out there Monday in a one run game. He hasn't gone full Ken Giles yet.
If the logic is that Osuna had a bad inning so they should go to Pressley or Harris, then why should they go with Pressley? He had a bad inning too.
Takeaways: Someone needs to buy Cole and JV wallets that say "Bad Mother****er" on them Stros are highly susceptible to power pitchers Tucker is not ready Springer looked weird on the 2B he fielded in RF late in the 8th and his ABs were for **** Pray for CC's back after this plane flight No more 4 out saves for Osuna
Overall, Astro Osuna has not been good. Now, he hasn't been 'bad', but he has NOT been good. There's still a chance for better, but he's been disappointing overall thus far.
I wouldn't be surprised if Hinch goes to Osuna but it should be similar to 2017, closer by committee. I'm hoping it doesn't take a blown save for Hinch to go to closer by committee. Hell I'm hoping Osuna can become reliable but Osuna didn't do well last year in the playoffs and he had several blown save this year. Just don't trust him.
That wouldn't be my logic. Osuna's pitched both games, faced a lot of Rays who saw a lot of pitches from him, and he threw a lot of pitches today. Many of the Rays he's likely to face in a Game 3 have seen his whole arsenal of stuff now and they were pretty good at knowing when to lay off pitches today. Harris has been more dominant; both have faced fewer Rays and thrown a lot less pitches.
Astro Osuna has been one of the best closers in baseball - and better than Toronto Osuna was. He's has some high profile meltdowns, but most great closers have. We just don't see the "high profile" part of it because we don't watch those teams on a regular basis.
I'll give Osuna a bit of the benefit of the doubt that Hinch never used him for a 4 out save until tonight. Might had threw him off a bit. Osuna does somewhat of Ken Giles implosion...we got to be worried a bit.
First half of season Pressly and Osuna were dominant, hopefully they both can put this behind them and pitch effectively the rest of the post season.
Your statement reflects more of the current state of closers. I'd also say, proportionally, Osuna has done worse than most Astros pitching acquisitions of recent memory.
You don't do that 2 games into the ALDS when you're up 2-0 with a guy who was nails in September after a rough late summer. Hold your breath if you want to.