Story by
Astros Recall Kai-Wei Teng After 18-3 Loss to Angels to Strengthen Bullpen
- Story by
- Astros Recall Kai-Wei Teng After 18-3 Loss to Angels to Strengthen Bullpen
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.
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) Erik Williams-Imagn Images
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.
Advertisement
ALSO SEE:
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
