Ed Wade Needs More Relievers, Astros Lose

What a way to reward our newest starting pitcher. Aneury Rodriguez only gave up one hit in his five innings of work, but Brandon Lyon struck again, giving up four hits and three runs while not recording an out in the ninth inning.

You'll hear all the right things from Brad Mills in the coming weeks, but with Wilton Lopez back from his injury and pitching an effective inning today, how long before he seriously considers the problem he has at closer? I'm not going to be foolish enough to expect Mark Melancon to be auditioned for the job, but if Lopez is healthy, he has to be considered at some point, right? 

The Astros aren't at the point where they'll just give up on Lyon, writing him off as a sunk cost, but they're getting damned close. He's at best the second-best reliever in that pen right now and at worst, he might not be able to pitch in the sixth inning. If and when Wilton Lopez is fully recovered, Mills has the previous confidence in him to give him a shot in the ninth. Maybe he doesn't, but all I know is something has to change. And soon.