With Josh Hader officially on the injured list for Opening Day, the Astros must turn to another bullpen option to close out games.
After spending much of the offseason building pitching depth, the Astros will rely on a reliever who has been with the organization since 2013, joining at just 16 years old.
Bryan Abreu, 28, is expected to handle closing duties until Hader returns. He has become one of Houston’s most reliable late-inning relievers, using his high-velocity fastball and sharp breaking pitches to generate strikeouts in key moments. He’s shown he can handle pressure, making him a natural choice for the job.
Here is a look at Abreu's most recent stats and what he brings to the mound, per MLB:
2026 Spring Training: ERA: 3.00, G: 3, GS: 0, SV: 0, IP: 3.0, SO: 0, WHIP: 1.00
2025 Regular Season: ERA: 2.28, G: 70, GS: 0, SV: 7, IP: 71.0, SO: 105, WHIP: 1.15
Career Regular Season: ERA: 2.65, G: 317, GS: 0, SV: 16, IP: 329.2, SO: 448, WHIP: 1.17
Abreu’s stats show his consistency and effectiveness. He has maintained an ERA under 3.00 across multiple seasons, demonstrating durability and reliability. While not strictly a closer, he can step in to finish games when needed, and his ability to limit baserunners makes him a trusted option in high-pressure situations.
With Hader out, Abreu gives the bullpen a solid option to hold leads and close games until Hader is back on the mound.