Texas Rangers’ Adolis Garcia (53) is restrained by home plate umpire Marvin Hudson as he yells at Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado after being hit by a pitch thrown by relief pitcher Bryan Abreu (52) during the eighth inning in Game 5 of the baseball American League Championship Series Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, in Arlington, Texas.
Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
“There’s a meeting at 5 [p.m.], that’s all I’ve been told, with the powers that be, our people, their people, MLB, Players Association,” Baker said Sunday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. “I’m not a lawyer. Even though my mom wanted me to be a lawyer, that’s too much school. So it’s in the hands of the lawyers.”
Baker noted he is currently unsure whether he should expect to have Abreu available out of the bullpen for Game 6 as the Astros look to secure their fifth World Series berth in this dynastic era. If Abreu’s suspension is upheld immediately, he will miss both Game 6 and then either Monday’s ALCS Game 7 or Game 1 of the 2023 World Series. There is also the chance no ruling is given until after Game 6 on Sunday, making any potential suspension guaranteed to bleed into the World Series. There is, of course, also the chance Abreu’s suspension is erased, though Baker is planning for an unfavorable ruling.
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“With the powers that be, [Abreu’s appeal] is out of my control,” Baker said. “Whatever happens I have to adjust and try to find a way to win the
game.”
Baker didn’t identify how his bullpen plan will be changed if Abreu’s suspension is immediately upheld, though such a decision would put Houston in quite the quandary for Game 6 (as well as a potential Game 7 on Monday night). For one, there’s the element of Abreu’s performance, which remains excellent in recent months. Abreu closed the regular season with 27 straight (!) scoreless appearances dating back to July 18. He’s allowed just one earned run in seven appearances in the 2023 playoffs, racking up 11 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Abreu is rightly renowned as an elite late-inning option. Take him out of the ALCS, and Baker has one fewer weapon at his disposal.
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The current construction of Houston’s bullpen writ large at the moment may be of some concern to the Astros. Closer Ryan Pressly threw 24 high-stress pitches across the final two innings of Game 5. Hector Neris is effectively the only other reliever firmly in Baker’s circle of late-game trust. Rookie Hunter Brown impressed in his trio of innings in Game 4, and perhaps Phil Maton and Rafael Montero can be deployed in select situations. Still, those three arms are each a noted tier below the Pressly-Abreu-Neris group, which is among baseball’s top end-of-game trios. If Abreu is absent, Houston’s bullpen appears far less lethal.
Neither Baker nor MLB have detailed the speed with which Abreu’s appeal will receive a decision. Regardless, the ALCS will move forward with Game 6 on Sunday night, with first pitch from Houston slated for 7:03 p.m. CT. Left-hander and 2022 World Series hero Framber Valdez will take the mound for Houston as he swuares off against Texas ace Nathan Eovaldi.
