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Josh Hader threw 44 pitches Wednesday, so he was obviously down tonight. Fortunately, Abreu got the job done, getting the final out in the eighth to protect a 6-5 lead and then retiring three out of four batters with a two-run lead in the ninth. It’s his ninth save to go along with 16 holds. In spite of a very discouraging start to the season, he’s set to enter free agency as one of the top relievers available this winter.

Abreu entered the game in the ninth inning to try to force the Rays into extra innings. After striking out Yandy Díaz to start the inning, Abreu walked Jonathan Aranda to bring Junior Caminero, the go-ahead run, to the plate. Abreu made only one pitch to Caminero, but it was one he would live to regret. Caminero blasted the first-pitch fastball from Abreu 434 feet into deep left-center to give the Rays the walk-off win. It was an unfortunate turn of events for Abreu, who had allowed just one earned run over his last 13 appearances entering Friday.

Josh Hader had this one off after pitching the previous two days and four of the last five. Fortunately, though, Abreu is back in pretty good form now after his horrendous start to the year. He has a 2.20 ERA in 30 appearances since the beginning of June, though his 32/13 K/BB in 28 2/3 innings still isn’t quite reminiscent of how he performed the previous four years.

Covering for Josh Hader who’d pitched in three of the Astros’ last four games, Abreu easily dispatched of the Marlins here. It was his first save since June 13th as Hader hasn’t missed a beat since returning from injury, so don’t expect any more save chances unless there’s a major shakeup in this bullpen at the trade deadline.

Abreu was given three days off to take care of a personal matter. The right-hander will be a bridge to closer Josh Hader, but he has not been effective whatsoever in 2026 as seen in a 6.39 ERA and 1.82 WHIP over his 25 1/3 innings.

Abreu lost any semblance of fantasy value once closer Josh Hader returned from the injured list a couple weeks ago. The 29-year-old has struggled to a career-worst 6.39 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 33/24 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings this season. It’s unclear when he’ll return at this juncture given his rather nebulous placement on the restricted list with Astros manager Joe Espada telling reporters they’re giving Abreu some time off to take care of a personal matter.

Josh Hader pitchd both Wednesday and Friday, so the Astros weren’t willing to go to him again tonight. That made Abreu the closer, and he worked around a Bobby Witt Jr. double for the save. Hader should get the ninth if there’s a save situation on Sunday.

This likely would have been a blown save, but the antsy Angels just couldn’t resist sending automatic runner Mike Trout home on Jose Siri’s single to open the bottom of the 10th. Trout was thrown out, and Abreu then struck out Jo Adell before Denzer Guzman’s liner to center, which surely would have been a sac fly with one out, was caught to end the game. It’s Abreu’s fourth save, but he isn’t in line for many more with Josh Hader back.

Bryan King started the ninth inning after throwing nine pitches in the eighth. He retired the first two batters of the final frame before allowing a single to Orlando Arcia that forced him out of the game. Abreu came in and promptly hit Luke Keaschall and then threw a wild pitch to get runners on second and third. However, he responded by getting Byron Buxton to foul out to third base to end the game and secure his third save of the season. It hasn’t been easy, but Abreu is pitching better of late and is clearly back in the saves mix until Josh Hader returns in a few weeks.

It took both Enyel De Los Santos and Bryan King to get though the seventh tonight. AJ Blubaugh opened the eighth with two consecutive outs, but he then walked two in a row to get Abreu into the game. Abreu got Justin Foscue to fly out to end the rally and then worked a scoreless ninth while giving up a walk and a single. In all, three of the four outs Abreu recorded came on hard-hit balls. He might earn another save or two before Josh Hader returns, but he hardly seems worth picking up in mixed leagues at this point.

Abreu entered the day with a 12.54 ERA, and his velocity in this one was about as bad as it’s been this season; he averaged 93.5 mph with this fastball, 1.6 mph off his season average and 3.8 mph less than his 2025 average. Still, he was more than a match for the punchless Red Sox. The one hit he gave up was an infield single that was originally ruled a double-error on Abreu; he failed to pick up Willson Contreras’s dribbler on the first try and then threw the ball past the first baseman to allow Contreras to take second. No matter, though, since Roman Anthony had a horrendous at-bat afterwards. The Astros still shouldn’t have much faith at all in Abreu. He only pitched in the tight situation today because everyone else was tired.

Abreu came in to pitch in the eighth inning in a game that the Astros were trailing 6-1, so this was the definition of a “get right” appearance. He did allow a hit and a walk, but any success is worth noting when you enter a game with a 20.25 ERA. Abreu has now worked in back-to-back games, so there’s a good chance he won’t be asked to work Monday if there’s a save situation.

Abreu has been awful to begin the 2026 season, and it just continued Saturday. He walked three, and while he did pick up a strikeout, he gave up a scorching line drive to J.P. Crawford with the bases loaded to take the loss. His ERA is now a reprehensible 20.25, and no matter how small the sample, it’s at least a smidgen concerning. Josh Hader isn’t far behind, and to say he doesn’t have to worry about his closer job being usurped is an understatement. Not now, anyway.

Troy Johnston singled in a run after the two walks. Abreu’s velocity remains down 1-1.5 mph from last year, but his lack of command seems like the bigger problem at this point. He’s allowed a run in all five of his appearances, and he’s far from assured of getting the ninth next time the Astros need a closer.

Abreu was handed a one-run lead in the bottom of the 10th, and it was evaporated on a three-run blast by Brent Rooker that gave the A’s the win and Abreu the loss and blown save. It’s very early, but the 28-year-old has been atrocious to begin the year with an unseemly 23.63 ERA over the first 10 games. One has to wonder if Abreu will get the next save chance for Houston, or if they’ll try and get him right in a lower-leverage situation.

Pitching with a three-run lead, Abreu gave up the solo shot to start the inning but then struck out the remaining three batters he faced. His fastball was back up to 96.1 mph on average today, which is up 1.6 mph better than first two outings but still down 1.4 mph from last year. It’s a good sign, nevertheless.

“We spotted a few things and we’ll be able to get him back on track here for his next outing,” Espada told reporters on Monday. He also confirmed that Abreu isn’t dealing with any physical issues, which is an encouraging development. The 28-year-old high-leverage specialist, who is filling in for injured Astros closer Josh Hader (biceps), averaged just 93.2 mph on his fastball during Sunday’s outing against the Angels in a save situation after averaging 97.3 mph last year. He was ultimately pulled in favor of lefty Bryan King after issuing a pair of walks and recording only one out. It doesn’t sound like the Astros are overly concerned. King would be the clear stash for fantasy managers in the event that Abreu doesn’t turn things around.

After giving up three runs in a non-save situation on Saturday, Abreu came on with a two-run lead to protect on Sunday afternoon. He issued a leadoff walk to Adam Frazier before getting Zach Neto on a deep fly ball to left. He then walked Mike Trout to put the tying runs on base. That’s when manager Joe Espada pulled the plug and turned to left-hander Bryan King. It could just be a blip in the radar, but perhaps Abreu isn’t as secure in the ninth inning role as everyone assumed with Josh Hader sidelined.

Not only did Abreu struggle with the punctuation coming on a three-run homer from Nolan Schanuel, but it came in a non-save situation, so fantasy managers get nothing but a hit to the ERA and WHIP. Abreu will remain the closer for Houston while Josh Hader (biceps) recovers, but it’ll take a few outings to make up for this one.

Arbitration isn’t kind to setup men in general, but Abreu has been good enough for long enough that he’s at least getting paid about one-third of what he’s worth. The 28-year-old had a 2.28 ERA in 71 innings for the Astros last season. He’ll be a free agent after 2026.