Astros add extra reliever to ALCS roster
The Houston Astros have finalized their roster for the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox, and have opted to carry 12 pitchers in total for the seven-game set.
Astros manager AJ Hinch announced that rookie outfielder Myles Straw and right-handed reliever Will Harris, who participated in the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians, would be replaced by Hector Rondon and Joe Smith, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
The full 25-man roster looks like this:
| Pos. | Player |
|---|---|
| C | Brian McCann |
| C | Martin Maldonado |
| 1B | Yuli Gurriel |
| 1B/DH | Tyler White |
| 2B | Jose Altuve |
| 3B | Alex Bregman |
| SS | Carlos Correa |
| IF/OF | Marwin Gonzalez |
| OF | George Springer |
| OF | Josh Reddick |
| OF | Jake Marisnick |
| OF | Tony Kemp |
| DH | Evan Gattis |
| P | Gerrit Cole |
| P | Josh James |
| P | Dallas Keuchel |
| P | Lance McCullers Jr. |
| P | Collin McHugh |
| P | Charlie Morton |
| P | Roberto Osuna |
| P | Ryan Pressly |
| P | Hector Rondon |
| P | Tony Sipp |
| P | Joe Smith |
| P | Justin Verlander |
Rondon, 30, struggled down the stretch of the regular season after acting as the club's closer. The right-hander authored a 3.20 ERA and 2.79 FIP over 59 innings, recording 15 saves.
Smith, a 34-year-old side-armer, was signed this past offseason to a two-year deal worth $15 million. In 56 relief appearances, the righty posted a 3.74 ERA and 4.06 FIP.
Meanwhile, Straw made two appearances in the ALDS as a pinch runner. Harris tossed one inning in Game 3, allowing one run on one hit and one walk.