Entering Friday, the Astros only trailed the Twins by fWAR as the most valuable bullpen in baseball through the season’s first forty-something games. Joe Espada’s decision to remove Bryan King in favor of Bryan Abreu to face Julio Rodríguez with a runner on base was the turning point.

George Kirby’s return to the mound ended in a loss and Julio Rodríguez was scratched from the lineup as the Mariners were thumped by the Astros.

Seattle’s George Kirby didn’t get the results he wanted in his season debut against the Houston Astros but was still encouraged in his return to the mound after a lengthy absence