The Houston Astros made a bullpen move Friday following their 18-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, recalling right-handed swingman Kai-Wei Teng from Triple-A Sugar Land and optioning left-handed reliever Bryan King.
The move gives manager Joe Espada another multi-inning option after Thursday’s blowout forced the Astros to work through several layers of their bullpen. Teng returns to Houston after spending much of the summer at Triple-A while recovering from arm fatigue and a right knee sprain.
Teng previously made a brief two-game appearance with the Astros in late July, earning a win out of the bullpen. The 27-year-old now returns healthy and rested as Houston prepares for a weekend series against the Athletics.
Teng has appeared in 25 games for Houston this season, including 10 starts, and owns a 5-6 record with a 4.35 ERA. He has struck out 67 batters across 68.1 innings while posting a 1.35 WHIP.
The Astros enter Friday with a 64-64 record and a narrow lead atop the American League West. The Texas Rangers sit one game behind, while the Seattle Mariners trail by four games.
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Houston’s pitching staff has posted a 4.15 ERA over its last 10 games, making additional length particularly valuable after Thursday’s heavy workload.
The move also comes as Houston monitors Jeremy Peña, who is day-to-day after an MRI showed no structural damage or fracture in his right hand following a hit-by-pitch Wednesday.
With the division race tightening, the Astros will hope Teng can provide useful innings while the rest of the pitching staff gets a chance to recover from Thursday’s exhausting defeat.
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