Astros closer Roberto Osuna dealing with arm injury
By Mike Luciano
Roberto Osuna might miss time with an injury.
The Houston Astros’ bullpen is not as deep at it was during the pennant-winning seasons of yesteryear, and they were just dealt some stinging injury news as it relates to stud closer Roberto Osuna.
Dusty Baker confirmed that Osuna, who has allowed just one run in 4.1 innings in 2019, has an arm injury that will require a further MRI. In a shortened season that will put an even greater emphasis on shortening the game with a dominant bullpen, this could be a significant loss.
Astros closer Roberto Osuna has some "discomfort in his arm," manager Dusty Baker said. Osuna is headed back to Houston for an MRI, so the team is probably going to need to make a roster move for the rest of the road trip. Baker called it a "real downer."
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 2, 2020
Roberto Osuna remains one of baseball’s best closers.
Osuna broke into the MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays at just 20 years old, and he quickly became one of the most un-hittable closers in the game due to his hard fastball and sharp, bending slurve. His 2.87 ERA as a Blue Jay established him as one of the game’s brightest young stars out of the pen.
Osuna’s reputation was ruined after a domestic violence-induced suspension, and the Blue Jays eventually chose to wash their hands clean of Osuna by trading him to Houston.
The Astros did sign 43-year-old Fernando Rodney to a minor league contract a few days ago, and it would be reasonable to assume that a veteran manager like Baker would call up an arm like Rodney’s to make up for the loss of Osuna.
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Osuna might not have a ton of fans outside of Houston given his controversial past and prominent role on the most hated team in the league, but what can’t be argued is the fact that there are few in the league that can equal his combination of pure smoke and electric breaking balls. The Astros’ championship pursuit will take a major dent if Osuna is forced to miss a lot of time.