The Houston Astros place the veteran reliever on the 15-day injured list

The Houston Astros have dealt with a lot of injuries throughout the campaign, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon, unfortunately. According to Chandler Rome of The AthleticThe Astros placed Ryan Pressly on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a lower back strain.

Pressly, who had to assume a different role after the team signed Josh Hader in the offseason, was still an important piece for the bullpen. He hasn’t been as dominant as in years past, posting the highest ERA of 2017 and tied for the highest WHIP of his career, but with the injuries Houston has dealt with, he’s been needed.

Head coach Joe Espada didn’t seem overly concerned about the injury, telling reporters Saturday that he didn’t think it was too serious.

“I don’t think it’s serious,” manager Joe Espada said Saturday afternoon. “We decided to give him some time to heal and get him back out there.”

The Astros have been playing excellent baseball of late, going 9-1 in their last 10 games. However, the next month and a half will be the bulk of the season, and Pressly will be needed at some point.

Although they are four games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West, Houston understands better than anyone that four games is no advantage.

Fortunately, Hader has been untouchable in recent weeks, a very promising sign as the Astros look to secure a postseason berth.

Espada understands that Hader can’t throw every game, so this will give some of the others in the bullpen a chance to prove they belong on the roster in October.

“There’s going to be a few games where Abreu and Hader aren’t available, so if you can start getting some of those guys to keep throwing the ball the way they’ve been throwing the ball that would be great,” Espada said.

Many bullpen players are struggling for an opportunity to pitch in big moments, and this injury opens that up even more. However, Pressly, a veteran who has been in pressure situations more than many relievers in the game, will need to return for Houston to have the rest of the campaign they are looking to have.

Hopefully, as Espada believes, this is nothing serious and the Astros will be able to get their trusty arm back in the near future. As long as he’s healthy for October, he should be in a good position.