Bryan Abreu is one of the best relievers in baseball. What surrounds him is a different story.
The Astros open the 2026 season without closer Josh Hader, who is on the injured list with a biceps issue, and without setup man Bennett Sousa, sidelined by a left oblique strain suffered on a fielding play in mid-March. Two of Houston’s most reliable late-inning arms are unavailable before the first pitch of the season, leaving Abreu, in a contract year, as the clear anchor of a bullpen still searching for structure.
Abreu is expected to handle closing duties. That much is settled.
Behind him, Bryan King and Steven Okert project as the primary setup options. King proved himself as a leverage arm last season, though his splits leaned more favorable against right-handed hitters. Okert’s return to a major league role adds another experienced lefty, but with Hader and Sousa both out, he and King are the only left-handers in the projected bullpen—a thin margin against left-heavy lineups.
Beyond that trio, the picture becomes far less certain.
Enyel De Los Santos has not been ruled out for Opening Day as he works back from a right knee strain. If available, he brings needed velocity and swing-and-miss potential. If not, Houston absorbs yet another early absence.
Roddery Muñoz, the club’s Rule 5 pick from Cincinnati, is essentially locked into a roster spot. He must remain on the Opening Day roster or be offered back to the Reds. His spring— 2.16 ERA over 8⅓ Grapefruit League innings entering last week—has been encouraging, though a blown save Saturday served as a reminder that consistency is still developing.
The long relief situation is where things get especially unsettled.
With an eight-man bullpen paired with a five-man rotation that may not be fully stretched out, Houston will need reliable multi-inning coverage early. AJ Blubaugh, Kai-Wei Teng, and Ryan Weiss are the leading candidates, with at least two likely to break camp. Weiss has been particularly effective, allowing just one run over 9⅔ innings this spring, but his preference—and contract incentives—lean toward starting, creating a potential mismatch between role and usage.
Non-roster right-handers Peter Lambert and Christian Roa have also pitched their way into consideration, while J.P. France remains a depth option who could provide emergency innings if needed.
The early schedule doesn’t help.
Houston is set to play 26 games in its first 28 days, a workload that would strain even a fully intact bullpen. In its current state, the group will be tested immediately, with little margin for inefficiency or short outings from the rotation.
Abreu should hold up his end. The real question is how the Astros navigate the innings leading up to him, at least until Hader and Sousa return and bring some stability back to the late innings.
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