Astros plan bullpen game for Wild Card opener against White Sox

Houston will use a bullpen game against the White Sox in Tuesday's American League Wild Card opener, manager Joe Espada said Monday, according to NBC Sports' report, which attributes the announcement to Astros reporter Chandler Rome. Espada did not name an opening pitcher. The decision gives Houston a plan for Game 1 after it used its available starters during the final push to win the AL West.

The best-of-three series begins at Daikin Park at 5 p.m. Eastern Tuesday. Houston claimed the division on the last day of the regular season and enters as the AL's No. 3 seed; Chicago is the No. 6 seed. The White Sox also have not announced a Game 1 starter. MLB's series preview says Chicago could open with a reliever before turning to Erick Fedde, but presents that as an expectation, not a club decision.

Houston's choice follows a demanding finish. Hunter Brown pitched Friday and Hayden Wesneski worked seven innings Saturday. Peter Lambert handled Sunday's finale. MLB noted before Espada's Monday announcement that those workloads left a bullpen game likely. Brown could be lined up for Wednesday's Game 2, but the Astros have not announced that assignment either. In a short series, using several relievers Tuesday also makes their availability later in the series a live question.

Espada does have rested late-inning options. MLB reports Josh Hader last pitched Wednesday and finished the regular season with a 1.01 ERA and 26 saves in 26 chances. Bryan Abreu remains a setup option, while Josh Hendrickson, Miguel Ullola and AJ Blubaugh could supply multiple innings. Those are possible roles from MLB's preview, not a declared sequence from the Astros.

The lineup will bring a different kind of certainty. Yordan Alvarez finished with a .316 average, .432 on-base percentage and .601 slugging percentage, leading the majors in all three, according to MLB. Rookie Lucas Spence hit four home runs in the final four games. Chicago counters with Miguel Vargas and rookie Munetaka Murakami, who combined for 68 home runs. Houston has its postseason pitching approach; the exact order of arms and both teams' starting lineups remain to be announced.