The Astros' Winning Pitching Decisions
A closer look at the key pitching decisions that led the Astros to victory against the Dodgers. Trust, confidence, and pressure played a crucial role.
Roberto Osuna is a professional Mexican baseball pitcher born on February 7, 1995, in Juan José Ríos, Sinaloa, Mexico. Coming from a baseball family—his father pitched in the Mexican League for 22 seasons and his uncle played 11 years in Major League Baseball (MLB)—Osuna began his professional career in 2011 with the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican League. At age 16, he was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays for a $1.5 million signing bonus, marking the start of his journey in North American professional baseball. Osuna quickly rose through the minor leagues and made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on April 8, 2015, at the age of 20. Known for his pitching versatility, he features a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball, slider, and changeup. Throughout his MLB career, he has been primarily used as a relief pitcher and closer. By 2019, Osuna had accumulated a career record of 14 wins, 18 losses, and an earned run average (ERA) around 2.74, with 155 saves over 314 games, highlighting his role as a high-leverage bullpen arm. After his tenure with Toronto, Osuna joined the Houston Astros, where he achieved a 2.46 ERA and 50 saves in 89 regular-season games through 2019. His performance with the Astros further established him as a reliable closer in the league. Osuna’s career has included notable achievements such as setting minor league strikeout records and ranking highly among MLB prospects. Despite some challenges, including injuries that required Tommy John surgery early in his career, he has maintained a strong presence as a professional pitcher. As of the most recent information, he remains active in professional baseball, continuing to contribute as a relief pitcher in MLB[1][2][3][5][6][7].
A closer look at the key pitching decisions that led the Astros to victory against the Dodgers. Trust, confidence, and pressure played a crucial role.