The Houston Astros may have quietly discovered a valuable bullpen piece for the 2026 season — and it comes from a pitcher originally viewed as a rotation prospect.
Right-hander A.J. Blubaugh, ranked as the Astros’ No. 8 prospect, entered spring training competing for a spot in Houston’s starting rotation. But as the roster picture becomes clearer, the 25-year-old could ultimately carve out a major role coming out of the bullpen instead.
Rotation competition remains crowded
Houston’s rotation already appears close to set.
Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, and Mike Burrows are widely considered locks to open the season as starters. With the Astros expected to run a six-man rotation, that leaves two remaining spots.
One of those positions is likely to go to Lance McCullers Jr., both because of his contract and the organization’s desire to see if he can regain his pre-injury form.
Other pitchers such as Ryan Weiss and Spencer Arrighetti also appear ahead of Blubaugh in the rotation competition, making a starting role difficult to secure.
Bullpen may be his fastest path
Despite that obstacle, Blubaugh has still impressed this spring.
Through 5⅔ innings of work, he has posted a 1.59 ERA, demonstrating the kind of performance that suggests he deserves a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Without any spring starts so far, however, Houston’s plans for him appear increasingly clear. If Blubaugh makes the team, it will likely be as a reliever rather than a starter.
Previous bullpen success supports the move
Blubaugh’s experience last season also supports the idea.
While most of his 2025 campaign at Triple-A Sugar Land came as a starter — where he recorded a 5.27 ERA — his brief time in the majors told a different story.
During 11 MLB appearances, eight came out of the bullpen. In those outings, he delivered outstanding results, finishing with a 1.59 ERA over 32 innings.
More importantly, his underlying metrics were equally impressive:
- 30.4% chase rate
- 30% whiff rate
- 28% strikeout rate
- .184 expected batting average against
Those numbers indicate his pitches may actually play better in shorter outings.
A potential multi-inning weapon
One of Blubaugh’s biggest advantages is his ability to handle multiple innings at a time.
During his 2025 MLB stint, he logged 21 innings across just eight bullpen appearances, functioning effectively as a bulk reliever.
That type of pitcher can be extremely valuable, especially for a team using a six-man rotation where bullpen flexibility becomes essential to keep pitchers fresh.
Roster flexibility adds extra value
Another factor working in Blubaugh’s favor is his minor-league option status.
Because he can be sent to the minors without clearing waivers, the Astros could move him between Houston and Triple-A throughout the season to manage workload and keep the bullpen fresh.
This flexibility makes him an even more appealing option for the Opening Day roster.
A role that could benefit everyone
While Blubaugh may still see himself as a future starter, the bullpen could provide his best opportunity to contribute immediately.
For the Astros, it may also be the perfect solution — allowing them to add a versatile arm capable of handling high-leverage moments or extended relief.
If his spring performance continues, Houston may have already found one of its most useful bullpen weapons for the 2026 season.
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