HOUSTON -- At 4:07 p.m. on Tuesday, AJ Blubaugh navigated around batting practice patrons, reached right field at Daikin Park and removed his shoes. Being barefoot soothes Blubaugh, a 25-year-old rookie right-hander thrust into the Houston Astros' pursuit of a pennant.

Blubaugh begins every new series with this same routine, an effort to either familiarize himself with a foreign ballpark or refocus his energy and start anew. During his days in Triple-A Sugar Land's rotation, each of Blubaugh's start days began with a shoeless walk around the ballpark. The biggest start of your life is no time to deviate.

"It's just part of the routine at this point," Blubaugh said after he finished it. "It makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I'm just relaxed. It's such a game (with a) roller coaster of emotions, tons of adrenaline and trying to calm down. Take a little time, some peace and quiet, be on the grass, it's nice."

It is called grounding, a therapeutic technique that can promote mental wellness and lower stress. About an hour before stretching or starting his throwing program, Blubaugh will emerge from whatever clubhouse he is inhabiting and take a barefoot walk around the warning track. The cerebral pitcher can chat with teammates, calm his mind or combine the two.

Other players partake in the pastime. Longtime reliever Adam Ottavino once said it helped him "connect with the environment." Two years ago, veteran infielder Nick Ahmed introduced it to some of his Arizona Diamondbacks teammates. One of them who helped spread the word now resides in Houston.

"The Earth puts out a certain energy. I think we can pick that up and also dump our energy back into it," said first baseman Christian Walker, who first learned about grounding in 2015 and still utilizes it.

"It's a form of meditation, just to slow down, be in the moment. But also, walking around barefoot, it's a de-stressor. It's a nice, quiet time. But I do think there's something to whether you're dumping negative energy or picking up positive energy, there is something to it."

It is comforting for someone in a stressful situation. Few felt more fraught than Tuesday. Blubaugh made his second major-league start during Houston's season-defining, six-game homestand. Lingering frustration from losing Yordan Alvarez to a severe left ankle sprain still seemed palpable.

Manager Joe Espada's terse pregame press conference accentuated it. He ended the gathering by giving a prediction. "I expect him to go out there and help us win this series," Espada said of his starting pitcher. "He's capable of doing that."

Blubaugh fulfilled the forecast. He began a bullpen game by bullying the Texas Rangers, continuing to stake his claim as a piece of Houston's present and future. Blubaugh struck out a career-high seven batters across his three innings of work, lowering his ERA to 2.16 in 25 major-league innings. The Astros' 6-5 win kept them within a half game of the first-place Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

Texas put just four balls in play against him and swung outside the strike zone 45 percent of the time. Major-league average chase rate is 28.1 percent. Blubaugh worked at a whirlwind pace while pounding the strike zone. Thirty-three of his 50 pitches were strikes. Of the 22 swings Texas took, 10 were whiffs.

Blubaugh's sweeper finished four of his seven strikeouts. His changeup confounded Josh Smith and Joc Pederson: the two left-handed hitters in the top of Texas' order. Smith, Pederson and two-hole hitter Wyatt Langford teamed to finish 0-for-5 with four strikeouts against Blubaugh.

"I approached it the same way I approach any outing at this point," Blubaugh said. "I have a job to do. I understand that. I was just grateful for the opportunity to compete and glad we could come out on top with the win."

Blubaugh's truncated outing aligned with a pregame plan concocted by Espada and pitching coach Josh Miller. Team officials are still wary of Blubaugh's ability to navigate a lineup more than once. Having him available as a reliever during the upcoming series against the Seattle Mariners mattered, too. Limiting him to 50 pitches made that possible.

"I was never aware of the plan, but to me I was going one inning at a time, one zero at a time and just happy we could win," Blubaugh said.

Injuries have forced Blubaugh into the big-league bullpen after starting his entire professional career. Whether that is his long-term home is a matter of debate. His stuff has played up so well out of the bullpen that some team officials believe he is best suited for relief. Blubaugh has bumped 98 mph with his four-seam fastball when asked to pitch one inning. On Tuesday, it touched 96.6 mph, but averaged 94.1.

"It's a tough one. He can start. He can come out of the (bullpen) -- his stuff plays up out of the 'pen," Espada said last week. "He's not afraid to come after hitters ... It's tough because he can do a lot of things for a club. "

What is clear: Blubaugh will continue to be given opportunities now and into next season. His performance has forced the Astros' hand. Debate about whether it is in the rotation or bullpen can wait.

Ten more games stand between the Astros and postseason baseball. Blubaugh is positioning himself to be part of it. If and when he is, stakes will rise to a level he's never seen. Serenity is necessary. Blubaugh is a devoutly religious man and believes prayer will help.

Barefoot and grounded, AJ Blubaugh has put himself on the Astros' map