HOUSTON -- The stock market has nothing on Major League bullpens. Relief pitchers are trending hot one month, disposable commodities the next.
There was so much instability with the Astros' bullpen last year, the team turned to starters in key relief spots in the postseason, with Justin Verlander winning Game 4 of the American League Division Series in Boston, Lance McCullers Jr. closing out Game 7 of the AL Championship Series against the Yankees and Charlie Morton finishing off the Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.
In the 11 months since Morton recorded the final out of the Fall Classic to give the Astros their first World Series title, the team has rebuilt its bullpen with an eye on October.