Scouting Report: Bryan Abreu

Summary

Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros reliever, has shown signs of improvement after a disastrous start to the 2026 season. Early in the season (April), he posted a 9.24-9.49 ERA over 12.2-13 innings with 13 hits and 13 earned runs allowed, along with 16 walks in 14 appearances. However, since mid-May, he has turned the corner, allowing just one run over his last five innings with eight strikeouts. His improvement stems from a simple adjustment: throwing his slider more frequently (nearly 60% in May) instead of relying on his fastball (which was hit at .278 AVG/.611 SLG in April). His four-seam fastball velocity has declined from 97.3 mph to 95 mph this season. He earned his second save of 2026 on May 16 against the Rangers, allowing one hit and one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings. Despite his recent improvement, he remains a potential trade candidate due to his final year of arbitration ($5.85M) and the Astros' injury-plagued roster. His track record from 2022-25 (2.30 ERA) suggests he could be coveted by contending teams as a rental.