Manager A.J. Hinch said Monday morning that Luke Gregerson, not Giles, will open the season as the Astros' primary closer, Julia Morales of ROOT Sports reports.
It was thought that Giles would snag the closer's job after being acquired by the Astros this offseason, but he was touched up for seven earned runs in 9.1 innings this spring, so Hinch decided to stick to what he knows, and enter the regular season with the reliable Gregerson as his closer. There is a chance Giles could grab the ninth-inning job at some point this season, but that will likely require Gregerson to give up the role, either by injury or poor performance.