May 14, 2026 • 7 mins
Brian McTaggart Discusses Astros Win, Bullpen Concerns & What’s Next
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's pretty easy to be joined by our weekly Friday
(00:03):
on Deck guests, but also our weekly Thursday Matt Thomas
showed with Ross guests. So since it is a day game,
it's a double duty for Brian mctaggett this week. Appreciate you,
Brian talking all things Astros and I'm sure a nice
win much needed for the Astros last night in extra innings,
and I imagine everyone on Astros Twitter has given Joe
(00:23):
spot a full credit correct.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Oh yeah, full credit. He's job that he saved his
job last night. I'm sure by winning that one game
in ten innings.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
All right, Well, as I said, much needed, Lanceculors Junior
did work a lot in a lot of trouble seven hits,
but gave you much of what you needed. I mean,
as we call it a quality start light here on
the show, five and a third innings, a couple of
runs given up. What overall did you you feel like
his outing and how you judge it not only just
by the score line, but what you saw from him.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, I mean it was impressed to me. And the
fact that he's throwing ninety two miles an hour and
he basically didn't use his curveball, So what the third
or fourth inning and he's able to get through that lineup.
You know, I thought when he came out and he
was throwing eighty eight, I was like, you know, he
gives up a home run third pitch. I was like,
oh no, you know, this could be uh, this could
(01:18):
be a short night. And man, he gets some of
the sixth inning. So do competes. I mean, he doesn't
have nearly the tools he used to, and I mean
he knows that, but he still goes out there and competes.
He has a lot of different ways to get swing
and miss and get guys out, So so good for him.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Yeah, and the bullpen holding things down for the most part.
Of course, Brian King running into some trouble. And I
feel like we talked so much about the starting pitching
and the injuries and those type of things. One of
the underreported things, of course, has been I mean it
has been talked about, but maybe more on the back
burner with Brian a bray You and of course Hater
being out. But at least I feel like maybe we've
(01:55):
said that's a time or two. Are we encouraged Brian
a bray You a little bit with what he should
after walking the first batter.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yeah, I mean, I think his last three or four
outings have all been better, and this was a high
leverage situation. He comes in, I think he hit ninety
sixty six, so the velocities ticked back up. Just looks
like he's pitching with more confidence again. So I mean,
the they desperately need that. I mean, there are a
couple of weeks probably from getting paid her back, so
there's a lot at the end of the toll there.
(02:23):
But it certainly looks like maybe he's ready to take
on a little bit more responsibility and get back into
some high leverage rolls. And really they don't have a choice.
I mean, how many times do they play when it's
not a high leverage situation or you know, it's a
blowout that really you haven't had many of those lately
because the offense is struggling now. So if they're gonna
win these tight games, they're gonna need Brian and Brady
(02:44):
to do. You know what he did last night, You
would like to eliminate the leadoff walk. That's always a
recipe for disaster. But he came back and pitched pretty well.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Brian mctiger was here on a Sports Talk seven ninety
covering the Ashtros for astros dot com. Earlier today, Joe
Spotta talking about going into a six man rotation and
Kaiwai Tang being a part of that. Just your your
thoughts on hearing that and how are we feeling about it?
Feels like we do a lot of times. State of
the rotation.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, I mean they've been stretching Tang out a little
bit here over the last couple of weeks, and they
think they can get him up to you know, eighty
eighty five pitches, and you know, he's pitched pretty well.
You know, the issue is you're you're taking him out
of your bullpen now where he was, you know, arguably
your your best reliever. But you know, it all starts
and ends with starting pitching. So and that's that's what
he's done. His entire career pretty much has been a starter.
(03:36):
So I think he's pitched well enough to earn that,
to earn a shot in the rotation. So until they
start getting some of their injured guys back in the rotation,
which doesn't seem like, you know, any of those guys
are close, they can put him in the rotation. Plus,
it looks like Nate Pearson could be close to coming
off the il. I mean, he's he's thrown over one
hundred and one miles an hour at Triple A on
a rehab outing, So you could plug him into that
(03:59):
spot in the bullpen and maybe feel good about him,
you know, being a guy who can give you, you know,
one or two innings and give you some of you know,
elite power stuff as well.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, I think, uh uh, sticking with the pitching, Brian
at the You've been covering the Astros for a long time,
doing a great job. Of course, like at the end
of your career, it feels like this, this Tatsu My story,
no matter how it turns out, is going to be
one of the more interesting ones. He comes over from
Japan having problems acclimating he hasn't been good, and then
(04:29):
they throw him in the fire, and then, I mean,
what did you make of only going with the two pitches?
Ten of the thirteen balls that were did he that
were hit in playoff of him were hard hit balls,
and it just ended up being a disastrous start, and
now he's got to continue to go out there. Just
just a bizarre story. Overall, And I mean, how do
(04:51):
you think It's very difficult, of course to predict, but
how do you how do you think this continues to
play out at least coming in his next start? Is
he is he still going to go with two pitches?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah? I don't know, I mean ideally, I mean a
starting pitcher can't really get by on two pitches. You know,
if you're a leever, you can get away with it.
But you know he's gonna have to start, you know,
mixing in some of the you know, the other things
that you know, curveball, change up, whatever. I mean, just
just being the fastball slider, he's not going to get
(05:21):
it done. A slider wasn't even that good. He struggled with.
I mean, I get what they were trying to do
to just simplify his simplify his arsenal, simple simplify his approach.
I mean, they didn't really from what we were tolling,
go over scouting reports of other hitters. They just wanted
him in the strike zone. And so the two pitches
he threw the most in Japan, or the fastball and
(05:44):
the slider. So they said, you know, just concentrate on
those pound zone with those but yeah, but when you
throw two pitches, you get predictable, and when you're in
the zone, you're gonna get hit hard. So he's definitely
going to have to open up the arsenal a little bit,
and maybe that's the plan. Next time he gets the ball,
which I'm guessing will be in Minnesota next week, he'll
open up that arsenal a little bit more. But I
think it's a start to start thing with him. I mean,
(06:07):
there's no point sending him to the minor leagues anymore.
He's not hurt. He's pitched in Japan for years. He's
just got to throw strikes and get out major league hitters.
That's what he's making eighteen million dollars for, and so
they got to keep running them out there until there
comes a point if he's struggling where you just can't
do it anymore. And we're not at that point yet.
So we'll see what happens next start, see if he
(06:28):
can maybe build on something and start to get some
momentum going.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
All right, and final question lineup today Zach Cole getting
slotted at the top yard on Alvarez bumped down to
the three spot. Just your overall thoughts when you saw that.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, I mean a little bit of a change. Alvarez
has been second the entire season. He's been slumping in May,
so I think maybe changing things up, you know, a
little bit. Zach Cole's an interesting choice just for the
fact he swings and misses so much. You know, he
did have a lot better batch yesterday, had three hits,
including the walk off. Louis Castill's the guy who's really
struggled lately. So you get cold at the top and
(07:08):
al Tuove, then another lefty and Alvarez. You know, maybe
you can ambush him and get them out of this
game early and get get into that bullpen.
It's pretty easy to be joined by our weekly Friday
(00:03):
on Deck guests, but also our weekly Thursday Matt Thomas
showed with Ross guests. So since it is a day game,
it's a double duty for Brian mctaggett this week. Appreciate you,
Brian talking all things Astros and I'm sure a nice
win much needed for the Astros last night in extra innings,
and I imagine everyone on Astros Twitter has given Joe
(00:23):
spot a full credit correct.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Oh yeah, full credit. He's job that he saved his
job last night. I'm sure by winning that one game
in ten innings.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
All right, Well, as I said, much needed, Lanceculors Junior
did work a lot in a lot of trouble seven hits,
but gave you much of what you needed. I mean,
as we call it a quality start light here on
the show, five and a third innings, a couple of
runs given up. What overall did you you feel like
his outing and how you judge it not only just
by the score line, but what you saw from him.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, I mean it was impressed to me. And the
fact that he's throwing ninety two miles an hour and
he basically didn't use his curveball, So what the third
or fourth inning and he's able to get through that lineup.
You know, I thought when he came out and he
was throwing eighty eight, I was like, you know, he
gives up a home run third pitch. I was like,
oh no, you know, this could be uh, this could
(01:18):
be a short night. And man, he gets some of
the sixth inning. So do competes. I mean, he doesn't
have nearly the tools he used to, and I mean
he knows that, but he still goes out there and competes.
He has a lot of different ways to get swing
and miss and get guys out, So so good for him.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Yeah, and the bullpen holding things down for the most part.
Of course, Brian King running into some trouble. And I
feel like we talked so much about the starting pitching
and the injuries and those type of things. One of
the underreported things, of course, has been I mean it
has been talked about, but maybe more on the back
burner with Brian a bray You and of course Hater
being out. But at least I feel like maybe we've
(01:55):
said that's a time or two. Are we encouraged Brian
a bray You a little bit with what he should
after walking the first batter.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yeah, I mean, I think his last three or four
outings have all been better, and this was a high
leverage situation. He comes in, I think he hit ninety
sixty six, so the velocities ticked back up. Just looks
like he's pitching with more confidence again. So I mean,
the they desperately need that. I mean, there are a
couple of weeks probably from getting paid her back, so
there's a lot at the end of the toll there.
(02:23):
But it certainly looks like maybe he's ready to take
on a little bit more responsibility and get back into
some high leverage rolls. And really they don't have a choice.
I mean, how many times do they play when it's
not a high leverage situation or you know, it's a
blowout that really you haven't had many of those lately
because the offense is struggling now. So if they're gonna
win these tight games, they're gonna need Brian and Brady
(02:44):
to do. You know what he did last night, You
would like to eliminate the leadoff walk. That's always a
recipe for disaster. But he came back and pitched pretty well.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Brian mctiger was here on a Sports Talk seven ninety
covering the Ashtros for astros dot com. Earlier today, Joe
Spotta talking about going into a six man rotation and
Kaiwai Tang being a part of that. Just your your
thoughts on hearing that and how are we feeling about it?
Feels like we do a lot of times. State of
the rotation.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, I mean they've been stretching Tang out a little
bit here over the last couple of weeks, and they
think they can get him up to you know, eighty
eighty five pitches, and you know, he's pitched pretty well.
You know, the issue is you're you're taking him out
of your bullpen now where he was, you know, arguably
your your best reliever. But you know, it all starts
and ends with starting pitching. So and that's that's what
he's done. His entire career pretty much has been a starter.
(03:36):
So I think he's pitched well enough to earn that,
to earn a shot in the rotation. So until they
start getting some of their injured guys back in the rotation,
which doesn't seem like, you know, any of those guys
are close, they can put him in the rotation. Plus,
it looks like Nate Pearson could be close to coming
off the il. I mean, he's he's thrown over one
hundred and one miles an hour at Triple A on
a rehab outing, So you could plug him into that
(03:59):
spot in the bullpen and maybe feel good about him,
you know, being a guy who can give you, you know,
one or two innings and give you some of you know,
elite power stuff as well.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, I think, uh uh, sticking with the pitching, Brian
at the You've been covering the Astros for a long time,
doing a great job. Of course, like at the end
of your career, it feels like this, this Tatsu My story,
no matter how it turns out, is going to be
one of the more interesting ones. He comes over from
Japan having problems acclimating he hasn't been good, and then
(04:29):
they throw him in the fire, and then, I mean,
what did you make of only going with the two pitches?
Ten of the thirteen balls that were did he that
were hit in playoff of him were hard hit balls,
and it just ended up being a disastrous start, and
now he's got to continue to go out there. Just
just a bizarre story. Overall, And I mean, how do
(04:51):
you think It's very difficult, of course to predict, but
how do you how do you think this continues to
play out at least coming in his next start? Is
he is he still going to go with two pitches?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Yeah? I don't know, I mean ideally, I mean a
starting pitcher can't really get by on two pitches. You know,
if you're a leever, you can get away with it.
But you know he's gonna have to start, you know,
mixing in some of the you know, the other things
that you know, curveball, change up, whatever. I mean, just
just being the fastball slider, he's not going to get
(05:21):
it done. A slider wasn't even that good. He struggled with.
I mean, I get what they were trying to do
to just simplify his simplify his arsenal, simple simplify his approach.
I mean, they didn't really from what we were tolling,
go over scouting reports of other hitters. They just wanted
him in the strike zone. And so the two pitches
he threw the most in Japan, or the fastball and
(05:44):
the slider. So they said, you know, just concentrate on
those pound zone with those but yeah, but when you
throw two pitches, you get predictable, and when you're in
the zone, you're gonna get hit hard. So he's definitely
going to have to open up the arsenal a little bit,
and maybe that's the plan. Next time he gets the ball,
which I'm guessing will be in Minnesota next week, he'll
open up that arsenal a little bit more. But I
think it's a start to start thing with him. I mean,
(06:07):
there's no point sending him to the minor leagues anymore.
He's not hurt. He's pitched in Japan for years. He's
just got to throw strikes and get out major league hitters.
That's what he's making eighteen million dollars for, and so
they got to keep running them out there until there
comes a point if he's struggling where you just can't
do it anymore. And we're not at that point yet.
So we'll see what happens next start, see if he
(06:28):
can maybe build on something and start to get some
momentum going.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
All right, and final question lineup today Zach Cole getting
slotted at the top yard on Alvarez bumped down to
the three spot. Just your overall thoughts when you saw that.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, I mean a little bit of a change. Alvarez
has been second the entire season. He's been slumping in May,
so I think maybe changing things up, you know, a
little bit. Zach Cole's an interesting choice just for the
fact he swings and misses so much. You know, he
did have a lot better batch yesterday, had three hits,
including the walk off. Louis Castill's the guy who's really
struggled lately. So you get cold at the top and
(07:08):
al Tuove, then another lefty and Alvarez. You know, maybe
you can ambush him and get them out of this
game early and get get into that bullpen.
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