The Houston Astros made another change to their pitching staff Friday, recalling right-hander Kai-Wei Teng from Triple-A Sugar Land and optioning left-hander Bryan King. The move gives Houston a fresh multi-inning arm as it opens a three-game series against the Athletics at Daikin Park.
King heads back to Sugar Land one day after struggling in Houston’s disastrous 18-3 loss to the Angels. He allowed five runs on five hits in 1⅓ innings, continuing a difficult stretch for the left-hander after a strong start to the season.
King posted a 2.03 ERA over his first 38 appearances this season but has a 13.15 ERA in his last 13 major-league outings. Friday marks the second time during that stretch that Houston has optioned him to Sugar Land.
Teng Returns as Bullpen Reinforcement
Teng returns to Houston after spending nearly a month in Triple-A. He owns a 4.35 ERA in 25 appearances for the Astros this season, including 10 starts, and last pitched for Houston on July 24 before being optioned two days later.
The right-hander has been working in relief at Sugar Land. Although Teng pitched as a starter for part of the first half, manager Joe Espada said Friday that Houston has no plans to use him in that role this time around.
“Velo is back, he’s been throwing the ball well,” Espada said. “But right now this time around, it’s strictly going to be out of the bullpen.”
Teng gives the Astros a much-needed multi-inning option after Thursday’s blowout taxed an already busy bullpen. Tatsuya Imai worked three innings against the Angels and will likely be unavailable for several days, while AJ Blubaugh pitched on consecutive days in the first two games of the series.
Houston enters Friday’s series opener against the Athletics at 64-64, clinging to a one-game lead over the Rangers in the AL West.
