Abreu issued a walk in a scoreless one-third of an inning to earn the save in a 4-2 victory over the Twins on Tuesday.
Abreu came on in relief of Hector Neris with two outs in the ninth. Neris had come into the game with a 4-0 lead but gave up two runs and was pulled with two men on. Abreu loaded the bases on a walk but struck out a struggling Jake Cave on a nasty 0-2 slider to close out the game for his second save of the season. Astros manager Dusty Baker explained after the game that closer Ryan Pressly was unavailable due to a reoccurrence of neck stiffness.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Picks up first save
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Abreu picked up the save in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Mariners, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Abreu earned his first save of the season in Saturday's contest. Ryne Stanek and Hector Neris had each pitched in the previous two games with Ryan Pressly on the paternity list, opening the door for Abreu to pick up a save. Pressly is likely to resume his closer duties upon his return, meaning Abreu should return to a mid-to-late-inning relief role.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Nabs Opening Day roster spot
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Manager Dusty Baker confirmed Sunday that Abreu has made the Astros' Opening Day roster, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Baker said that Abreu and Ronel Blanco secured the final two spots in the Astros' season-opening bullpen after Brandon Bielak and Seth Martinez were optioned to Sugar Land, while non-roster invitees Adam Morgan and Zac Rosscup were informed they wouldn't make the club. Abreu, who owns a 4.69 ERA and 11.3 K-BB% across 42 career big-league appearances, is expected to fill a low-leverage role out of the Houston bullpen.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Sent to Triple-A
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Abreu was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Abreu struggled mightily in a relief appearance Sunday and allowed seven runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning against the Rangers. He'll attempt to right the ship in the minors after Brandon Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Moves to taxi squad
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The Astros optioned Abreu to their taxi squad Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
He'll cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to closer Ryan Pressly (personal), who was reinstated from the paternity list in a corresponding move. The Astros will conclude their road trip Wednesday with a game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, so expect Abreu to report to Triple-A Sugar Land once the big club begins its homestand Thursday.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Back with big club
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The Astros recalled Abreu from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Houston optioned Abreu to the minors Saturday, but he never reported back to Sugar Land and stuck around with the Astros on their West Coast road trip in case an extra reliever was needed. He'll be eligible to rejoin the Astros just one day later after closer Ryan Pressly was placed on the paternity list Sunday. Expect Abreu to work mostly in low-leverage spots out of the bullpen while he's on the 26-man active roster.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Optioned to Triple-A
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Abreu was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Abreu will be one of the players to make way as the Astros add their deadline-day acquisitions to the roster. He hasn't excelled this season, though his 4.08 ERA in 35.1 innings is perfectly serviceable, so Abreu could return to the big-league bullpen at some point in the second half.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Picks up relief win
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Abreu (3-3) allowed one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings to earn the win over Oakland on Tuesday.
Abreu was activated earlier in the day and played a key role in Houston's come-from-behind victory. He and two other relievers shut the door over the final four innings. Houston's bullpen has been unsettled all season, but Abreu has a respectable 3.21 ERA since May 1.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Nears return
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Abreu (calf) struck out one and walked one over two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday and could be activated off the 10-day injured list this week, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Abreu made his fourth appearance while on rehab, and it was the second of back-to-back appearances. Typically, going back-to-back days is the final box to be checked before activation. Houston manager Dusty Backer said a decision would be made in the next few days. Houston has an off-day Monday before hosting the Athletics for three games beginning Tuesday.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Makes second rehab appearance
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Abreu (leg) struck out one over a perfect inning for Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.
This was Abreu's second rehab outing after he threw 1.2 innings June 29 for the Skeeters. He's one of three Houston relievers working their way back from injury. Enoli Paredes (shoulder) and Joe Smith (elbow) are also on rehab.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Slated to begin rehab assignment
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Abreu (leg) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land this week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Abreu sustained a leg injury while shagging flyballs during batting practice in late May, and he's been on the injured list since May 30. He could require multiple rehab appearances since he's missed just over three weeks, but he appears to be trending toward a return.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Slated to miss extended time
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Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Abreu (leg) will be out "a while," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Abreu suffered his injury while shagging balls during practice Saturday, and he's on crutches as a result. Baker didn't provide a timetable for the right-hander's return, but it appears as though he'll miss more than the minimum 10 days.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Dealing with leg issue
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Abreu was unavailable for Saturday's game against the Padres due to a leg injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The 24-year-old apparently suffered the injury while shagging flyballs during batting practice. It's unclear if the issue will affect Abreu's availability for Sunday's series finale.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Notches first big-league save
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Abreu earned the save against the Dodgers on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless inning and allowing two walks while striking out one.
The Astros held a 5-2 lead heading into the ninth frame, but regular closer Ryan Pressly was unable to pitch due to a stiff neck. Houston consequently turned to Abreu, who put a pair of runners on base with walks but rebounded to strike out Albert Pujols and wrap up the first save of his career. It remains to be seen how much additional time, if any, Pressly will miss, and Abreu could be in the mix for additional save chances if the Astros are without their primary closer for future contests.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Hit with loss
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Abreu (1-1) was charged with the loss Friday against the Athletics, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one across 2.1 innings.
The righty sat down the first six men he faced in relief of Lance McCullers before allowing a single in the top of the eighth. Abreu was pulled by manager Dusty Baker after striking out the next batter. The baserunner he allowed would come around to score on a Matt Olson home run, sticking Abreu with the loss. Nevertheless, it has been a strong start to the season for the 25-year-old, who has only surrendered one run across 6.2 innings pitched.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Earns win in relief
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Abreu (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one over 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win over Oakland on Friday.
Abreu entered for starter Cristian Javier, who labored through 38 pitches in the fourth inning and left with two runners on. Abreu retired Elvis Andrus on a groundout then navigated two uneventful innings. Abreu was stretched out during spring training for scenarios like this. Javier missed time this spring due to quarantining and was not built up as a six- or seven-inning starter.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Makes final spring start
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Abreu allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out three over three innings in Saturday's spring game against the Mets.
Abreu, who was informed that he made the Opening Day roster prior to starting Saturday's game, could see meaningful usage as a stretched-out, multi-inning reliever during the first few weeks of the regular season. The Astros have two rotation slots not yet stretched out. Cristian Javier, who's scheduled to throw the second game of the regular season, has thrown just 3.1 spring innings. The No. 5 slot will eventually go to Jake Odorizzi, but he needs to build up innings and pitch count before entering the rotation. That means Abreu, Brandon Bielak and Luis Garcia, each stretched out for multiple innings, could see significant usage, and possibly a start, early on.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Makes Opening Day roster
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Abreu was informed Saturday that he'll make the Astros' Opening Day roster as a reliever, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Abreu was ramping up his innings during Grapefruit League games but will begin the 2021 season in the major-league bullpen rather than joining Triple-A Sugar Land's rotation. The right-hander has made three appearances (two starts) this spring and posted a 3.68 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 7.1 innings. Abreu should serve as a middle reliever for Houston early in the year.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Fires three perfect innings
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Abreu struck out four over three perfect innings in Monday's spring game against the Mets.
Abreu is ramping up his innings in case he's needed in Houston, but he's expected to start the season as part of Triple-A Sugar Land's rotation, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. He could, however, be part of the Astros' bullpen with reliever Andre Scrubb suffering from a sore right shoulder.
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Astros' Bryan Abreu: Set to throw in 'B' game
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Abreu will pitch in a "B" game Saturday against the Nationals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Abreu will be making his first appearance since finishing his quarantine. He has not thrown in a game situation since going two innings against the Marlins on Feb. 28. The state of Houston's starting rotation is getting dicey already at the mid-point of March. There's still an ongoing evaluation of Framber Valdez (finger), Jake Odorizzi is unlikely to build up his pitch count in time for Opening Day and several depth starting candidates, including Abreu, lost time due to being in quarantine.
