A good team should have a potent, capable offense, a deep starting rotation, and great defense.
However, each year becomes more evident that a contending team needs to have a top-notch bullpen to succeed in the postseason.
This is the case of the Houston Astros.
A team doesn’t make four World Series in a span of six years without a dominant set of relievers.
That just doesn’t happen.
Fortunately for the Astros, they have one, and it’s led by Ryan Pressly.
The closer is their most effective reliever, and he has been lights-out for a while now.
“Ryan Pressly’s last 18 appearances (including Postseason): 18 Innings, 6 Hits, 28 Strikeouts, 2 ER (1.00 ERA), 11 Saves,” MLB Network tweeted.
Ryan Pressly’s last 18 appearances (including Postseason) 🔒
18 Innings
6 Hits
28 Strikeouts
2 ER (1.00 ERA)
11 Saves#LevelUp | @astros pic.twitter.com/iIR4s18IIn— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 3, 2022
A total of 8.1 of those 18 innings have come in the 2022 playoffs, in which he has an immaculate 0.00 ERA.
Take a moment to assimilate and digest those numbers, because that 18-inning stretch might be one of the best in MLB history combining regular season and playoffs.
An Incredible Stretch Of Regular Season And Playoff Dominance
Allowing just six hits in 18 innings is nothing short of amazing, as are the 28 strikeouts.
The most impressive part of it all is that Pressly doesn’t really have an elite fastball that can reach 100 mph.
The pitch averaged 94.5 mph this season.
However, his breaking pitches are incredibly effective, most notably a slider-curveball combo that break in different planes.
Both of those pitches can miss bats at an elite rate.
Pressly is also capable of covering more than one inning if the situation requires it.
As long as the Astros employ the right-hander and he is healthy, they will have a chance to win any game.
He is that good.
