Javier's postseason role up in the air despite latest gem

HOUSTON -- The Astros don’t have anything else to play for in the regular season with their playoff picture set, but the team will look to finalize the roles of players such as Cristian Javier, who tossed six scoreless innings in the Astros’ 2-1 win over the Rays on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.

Collectively, the Astros accomplished what they were hoping to achieve as they secured the top seed in the American League and home-field advantage through the AL Championship Series on Friday. It meant the players can utilize the final regular-season games to fine-tune things before the postseason begins. But for others, it’s crunch time to pave their role before the AL Division Series begins on Oct. 11.

One of those players is Javier, whose role in the playoffs is not finalized yet. He set himself up to play a pivotal role in October as he struck out seven while allowing just two hits on Saturday. The 25-year-old also extended his scoreless streak to 25 1/3 innings, the longest active mark in the Majors.

“Javier was very good,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “He’s showing good command, and the slider is better. He’s getting better as a pitcher.”

It is easy to be overshadowed in a starting staff that contains two pitchers in the conversation for the AL Cy Young Award in Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez. But Javier has sneakily been one of the best pitchers in the league.

Javier leads the Majors Leagues in opponents’ batting average (.170) and ranks second in strikeouts per nine (11.74) among pitchers who have thrown a minimum of 125 innings. He was also the starter in the combined no-hitter against the Yankees on June 25.

The accomplishments and numbers are there for Javier, but his role in the postseason remains undecided with the first three spots in the rotation seemingly locked up by Verlander, Valdez and Lance McCullers Jr. José Urquidy and Luis Garcia, Sunday's starter, are two other contenders for a starting role.

“I feel very good at this point of the season and will continue to build on what I have done this season,” said Javier.

Javier resorted to what he does best on Saturday: make hitters guess. He generated 13 whiffs while striking out seven of the 20 batters he faced.

It came as a result of having good command on all four of his pitches (fastball, slider, knuckle curve and changeup) while throwing 62 of his 95 pitches for strikes.

“I have a lot of trust in all my pitches,” Javier said. “It has given me the confidence to attack the hitters with whatever pitch and maintain my pitches in the strike zone.”

Saturday’s start capped off what has been a strong regular season for Javier, who posted a 2.54 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP with 194 strikeouts in a career-high 148 2/3 innings. The numbers make a case for him to be used as a starter in the postseason, but Javier possesses something that the rest of the starting rotation lacks: bullpen experience.

Javier has excelled out of the bullpen this season, posting a 1.26 ERA in his 14 1/3 innings. He has experience as a reliever in the postseason as well, posting a career 3.15 ERA in 11 appearances (20 innings).

It makes Javier a logical choice to put in the bullpen as a potential long reliever. But if the Astros are able to make a long playoff run as they hope to do, it is not out of the realm of possibility to see him make a start.

Regardless of what role he plays, Javier will be pivotal for the Astros’ push for their second World Series title.