Astros' Blaylock Nears Return, Expected to Rejoin as Reliever

Houston Astros pitcher Joe Blaylock is nearing a return from the 15-day injured list after suffering a right knee sprain. The 27-year-old Taiwanese right-hander has begun throwing in rehab games, signaling progress in his recovery.

According to Astros manager Joe Espada, Blaylock is slated to return to the team in a relief pitcher role. This decision comes as Blaylock's innings pitched this season are approaching a career high. He has appeared in 23 games, starting 10, and has accumulated a 4-6 record with a 4.36 ERA over 64 innings. He has also recorded 3 saves.

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He will return as a relief pitcher.

The Athletic's Chandler Rome, who covers the Astros, believes Blaylock could fit into a long-relief role or even serve as a "piggyback starter." This suggests a strategy where a reliever pitches the initial innings of a game, followed by a starter, or vice versa. Rome noted that Blaylock himself admitted to feeling fatigued in late June, making a move back to the bullpen a logical adjustment.

Blaylock's potential return to the bullpen comes at a time when the Astros' starting rotation has faced instability. However, Espada has been clear about Blaylock's immediate role upon his return, prioritizing his health and workload management by keeping him in relief.

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Blaylock's innings are approaching a career high, and he admitted to fatigue in late June.