When the Houston Astros acquired Kai-Wei Teng from the San Francisco Giants in January, the expectation was that he would serve as a swingman—a long reliever capable of eating innings when the rotation needed help. Nobody anticipated he would become one of its most reliable arms.
Through 10 appearances, Teng has posted a 1.65 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 16⅓ innings, holding opposing hitters to a 0.80 WHIP. In a bullpen that has been battered and overworked all season, he has been a quiet constant—dependable, effective, and seemingly getting better.
Now the Astros are wondering if they can get even more out of him.
General manager Dana Brown confirmed Wednesday on SportsTalk 790 that the team has been discussing the possibility of stretching Teng back out as a starting pitcher. “Kai-Wei Teng’s been pretty good,” Brown said. “We’re having some conversations in terms of maybe potentially starting him as well, building him up. He’s been a starter also in the past. He gave us 2 2/3 really good, quality innings and kept things at bay.”
The timing makes sense. With Hunter Brown (Grade 2 shoulder strain), Cristian Javier (Grade 2 shoulder strain), Tatsuya Imai, and Cody Bolton all on the injured list, Houston’s rotation has been running on fumes. The team entered play this week at 10-16, and the starting staff’s struggles have been the primary culprit.
Teng is no stranger to the rotation. He started 99 of 102 games during his minor league career from 2019 to 2023, and made seven starts for the Giants last season. The transition back would not be a leap into the unknown, it would be a return to where he spent most of his professional life.
His stuff backs it up. Teng’s four-seamer is averaging 94.7 mph this season, up from 93.2 mph in 2025, and has touched 96.8. His primary weapon is a sweeper that generates a 36.4% chase rate and a 32.6% whiff rate, which are numbers that play in any role.
The legitimate question is his command. Teng has historically struggled with walks, posting a 12.2% walk rate in the majors and 11.5% in the minors. As a reliever working shorter stints, he can afford the occasional free pass. As a starter asked to go five or six innings, those numbers could add up in a hurry.
Still, the Astros are not exactly flush with alternatives. Peter Lambert has made just one start. Ryan Weiss has had his opportunities without seizing them. If the Astros were to swap Teng and Weiss into opposite roles or work them in tandem, it could give Houston a creative solution to a very real problem.
Nothing is official yet. Brown’s comments suggest conversations, not decisions. But if Teng continues to pitch the way he has, the conversation may not stay theoretical for long.
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