Statcast tracks Astros’ quick work on final out

As they try to rally for a spot in the postseason, the Astros need players to rise to the occasion in big moments. As Statcast™ helps demonstrate, that’s exactly what reliever Luke Gregerson and catcher Jason Castro did to finish off Wednesday’s 6-5 win at Oakland, which ultimately brought Houston within one game of Baltimore for the second American League Wild Card berth.

With the Astros clinging to a one-run lead and needing one more out to seal the victory, speedy pinch-runner Arismendy Alcantara broke for second base on Gregerson’s 1-1 breaking ball to Ryon Healy. To prevent the potential tying run from reaching scoring position, both Gregerson and Castro needed to be quicker than usual.

In similar situations this season, with a runner on first base but second and third empty, Gregerson’s average release time — from his first move to the ball leaving his hand — is 1.35 seconds, according to Statcast™. That is the 12th-slowest time among Major League right-handers in those scenarios.

But in this case, Gregerson’s quick slide-step maneuver helped him deliver the pitch in 1.17 seconds, close to the MLB average of 1.11 with the only runner on …

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