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King earned his second save of the season Saturday against the Red Sox after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
The Astros deployed Enyel De Los Santos across the fifth and sixth frames of Saturday's game, so manager Joe Espada opted to go with King over Brayan Abreu to protect the team's 6-3 lead in the ninth. The decision turned out to be the right one, as King needed just six pitches (four strikes) to retire the side. The Astros should continue to use a committee approach to closing duties between King, Abreu and De Los Santos until Josh Hader (biceps) is cleared to return from the 60-day injured list, the earliest of which would take place in late May.
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Astros' Bryan King: Blows save Tuesday
Rotowire
King was charged with his first blown save of the season in Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Guardians, coughing up three runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. He failed to strike out a batter.
The Astros headed into the bottom of the eighth inning with a 4-2 lead, but Enyel De Los Santos and King combined to surrender six runs in the frame, and the left-hander was the one tagged with the blown save. Manager Joe Espada is still searching for answers at closer with Josh Hader (bicep) on the shelf, and while King stepped up as a reliable high-leverage option over the first few weeks of the season, he's now given up six runs (four earned) over his last two appearances and 2.2 innings. On the season, he carries a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB through 10.2 innings with one save and two holds in nine outings.
King earned the save in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Angels, allowing a hit and striking out two in two-thirds of an inning.
After Bryan Abreu issued a pair of walks to start the ninth, the Astros turned to King to record the final two outs. The left-hander would give up an RBI single to Nolan Schanuel before rebounding to strike out Jorge Soler and Yoan Moncada, logging his first save this season. While Abreu will likely remain Houston's primary ninth-inning option while Josh Hader (biceps) is sidelined, King could see more save chances in the short term, depending on matchups. King posted a 2.05 ERA with a 0.85 WHIP and 76:16 K:BB across 52.2 innings in 2025.
King earned a save against the Rangers on Wednesday by pitching 1.1 perfect innings. He did not record any strikeouts
King entered with two outs in the eighth inning, inheriting two runners on base. He got Dylan Moore to fly out, then retired all three batters he faced in the ninth to close out the contest. The save was King's second of the campaign and his first since July 22. Bryan Abreu has taken over closer duties for Houston with Josh Hader (shoulder) out of action, but Abreu was held out Wednesday after pitching each of the previous two days. It makes sense that the Astros turned to King late in the game, as he's now given up just one run while posting a 17:2 K:BB over his past 17 innings spanning 16 appearances.
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Astros' Bryan King: Snags first big-league save
Rotowire
King allowed three hits and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks.
Josh Hader was evidently unavailable after throwing 53 pitches across his last two appearances dating back to Saturday. Manager Joe Espada elected to have Bryan Abreu work the eighth inning against the heart of the Arizona order, while King got the ninth. King loaded the bases with three singles before striking out Blaze Alexander and inducing a double-play grounder from Jose Herrera. King has emerged as a steady setup option for the Astros in his first full big-league season, pitching to a 2.55 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 45:8 K:BB through 42.1 innings while adding 21 holds and two blown saves. He's been scored upon in just seven of his 43 appearances, including a five-run fiasco versus the Rays on May 29 that skewed his ratios, though he has an 8.1-inning scoreless streak in July.
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Astros' Bryan King: Strong showing to start 2025
Rotowire
King allowed two hits across a scoreless seventh inning Thursday against the Mariners.
King split 2024 evenly between Houston and Triple-A Sugar Land, but he broke camp with the big-league club this season and has excelled. He has held opponents scoreless in 21 of his 23 appearances and has also tallied 10 holds, the second-highest mark on the team.
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Astros' Bryan King: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros recalled King from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
King has been great out of the Houston bullpen this season, putting up a 2.05 ERA and 27:9 K:BB over 22 innings. He'll give manager Joe Espada another left-handed relief option.
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Astros' Bryan King: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros optioned King to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
This looks like merely a numbers game and King having minor-league options available, as his 2.05 ERA and 27:9 K:BB over 22 innings doesn't point to a guy deserving of a demotion. King should be back in the Houston bullpen soon enough.
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Astros' Bryan King: Joins big club
Rotowire
The Astros selected King's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
King has pitched well at Triple-A this season, posting a 1.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 41:14 K:BB while recording three saves over 33.2 innings. He'll provide the Astros with a left-handed option out of the bullpen. To make room on the 40-man roster for King, Houston designated right-hander Alex Speas for assignment.
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