A relatively slow velocity in modern baseball, where pitchers throwing 100 mph abound. And in the regular season, not much to write home about in terms of superlative closing.

But in the postseason, he’s reminiscent of the Mariano Rivera of old. Ryan Presley (35) of the Houston Astros is on a roll.

Houston led the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Texas Rangers 3 games to 2 on April 22. Two losses followed by three straight wins.

The offense was absolutely dominant. But it wasn’t all about the bats. The bullpen was held together by Presley, who was near perfect.

In three appearances on the mound leading up to Game 6 of the ALCS, 메이저놀이터Presley has pitched four innings, going 1-0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA. He struck out five.

Most notably, Presley took the mound in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the ALCS on April 21, trailing 4-2, and pitched two shutout innings to preserve the win, which came on the heels of a three-run comeback.

This run has been going on since the 2021 World Series. He has a 0.00 ERA in six postseason series, including Game 6 of the ALCS.

In last year’s World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he appeared in five games and pitched 5 2/3 innings, recording two saves and a 0.00 ERA.

His career postseason ERA is just 2.22. In his last six series, he has pitched 20 2/3 scoreless innings.

Considering Presley’s career regular-season ERA is 3.25, it’s safe to say he’s even stronger in the postseason.

That’s a low velocity compared to modern baseball’s closers, who can easily reach 100 mph. However, Presley does have a changeup that is highly regarded for its value.

Additionally, his 46 postseason appearances, including Game 5 of the ALCS, make him one of the best closers in the fall.

If Houston can once again clinch a World Series berth behind the closer’s arm, the ALCS Most Valuable Player (MVP) race will heat up.