This winter, the Astros traded for young Phillies bullpen stud Ken Giles, with the assumption he'd be the team's closer and help shore up a concerning bullpen from 2015 that was highlighted by up-and-down closer Luke Gregerson.
Instead, Gregerson held off Giles and kept his closer's job as Giles has been awful so far this season with a 5.55 ERA. Gregerson hasn't been much better with a 4.56, including two straight blown saves that gave him five on the year.
Much like Texas when it pulled the plug on Shawn Tolleson as the team's closer, the Astros appear to have done the same with Gregerson, according to MLB.com's Alyson Footer.
Manager A.J. Hinch has opened things up for now, meaning Giles and Will Harris, who notched a save against Oakland on Sunday, will get chances moving forward. Harris has a 0.34 ERA in 26 2/3 innings.
