[closing_time list_id=”21623″ season=”2018″ include_stats=”1″]

It feels like every time I start to gain some confidence in Ken Giles, I’m immediately let down as either he implodes on cue or A.J. Hinch decides to try out someone new in the 9th inning or some combination of both. This week it’s the combo option, as both Giles struggled and Hector Rondon has shot on to the scene to secure the Astro’s last three save chances, converting each one fairly easily. Hinch has hinted at it just being temporary, and just riding the hot hand which is Rondon, but the fact that this is even coming up again is certainly discouraging. If Hinch were forced to answer who will finish the year with the most saves, I’m sure Giles would be his answer, but as much as I’d like to believe that, at this point, it’s really tough to trust anything that happens with this bullpen. Expect them to be heavy in the reliever market near the deadline and I don’t usually like to speculate but I’m fully buying into them landed a talented lefty in either the Zach Britton or Brad Hand mold.