The Astros added Taylor to the ALCS roster ahead of Game 1 on Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor will serve as another lefty relief option to potentially face the likes of Kyle Schwarber, Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo in the championship series. He posted a 3.16 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 42.2 innings during the regular season, recording five holds along with five blown saves.

Taylor was not included as part of the Astros' roster for their ALDS matchup against the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor spent the entirety of the regular season in the majors, outside of a brief rehab stint in late May, but he's apparently not seen as one of the team's top 12 pitchers despite the fact that he recorded a 3.16 ERA in 42.2 innings. The decision appears to be a strategic one, as the Astros will carry just a single left-handed reliever (Brooks Raley) against a White Sox team that skews heavily right-handed. If the Astros advance to the ALCS and decide they need a second lefty, Taylor will likely return to the roster.

Taylor (2-3) was tagged with the loss in relief Saturday against the Giants after allowing one run on one hit and a walk across two-thirds of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor pitched the sixth inning but couldn't complete the frame before being lifted, as he allowed a walk to Austin Slater and a single to Darin Ruf -- who would've ended up scoring on an RBI single from Brandon Crawford two at-bats later. Taylor, who tossed just five of his 11 pitches for strikes, has now given up runs in back-to-back outings and posted a 4.09 ERA with a 1.55 WHIP and an absurdly high 6.5 BB/9 across 11.0 innings in July.

Taylor's fastball velocity has decreased recently, but he says it is not due to injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor has averaged 93.2 mph with his four-seamer, but the left-hander ended the eighth inning of Friday's game with a heater that measured just 86.9 mph. He averaged just 91.2 for the 18 four-seam fastballs he threw during the 7-3 win over Texas. Manager Dusty Baker asked about the drop, and the pitcher said he's okay. The manager speculated that he could be out of sync, which can affect velocity. Taylor has worked 3.1 scoreless innings over four outings since returning from the All-Star break.

Taylor (1-2) retired all four batters faced to earn the victory in Sunday's 4-3 extra-inning win over Cleveland.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor made quick work of Cleveland hitters, retiring all four in just 11 pitches. This comes after the high-wire act he pulled Friday when Cleveland loaded the bases off him with three weak-contact hits. With two outs, manager Dusty Baker left Taylor in, and the pitcher rewarded the manager by striking out Harold Ramirez on a 2-2 slider. Since coming off the injured list, the second-year lefty has a 1.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and four walks over 13 innings. Baker has navigated a bullpen without much surety beyond closer Ryan Pressly, but Taylor appears to be emerging as a late-inning option.

Taylor (0-2) allowed an unearned run in one-third of an inning in Sunday's extra-inning loss to Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

In the bottom of the 10th, Akil Baddoo was Detroit's initial runner, and he moved to third on a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice bunt that stuck Taylor with the loss. The southpaw still has a decent 3.17 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB across 14.2 innings. He's added three blown saves and two holds in 16 appearances, mainly in a low-leverage role.

Taylor (0-1) allowed three runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss versus Boston on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Kyle Tucker dropped J.D. Martinez's sacrifice fly to tack an unearned run on Taylor's line. Enoli Paredes (shoulder) then allowed two inherited runners to score, which was enough to stick Taylor with a loss as his first decision this season. The southpaw has a 5.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB across nine innings this year. He's collected two holds and two blown saves in 11 outings, but he'll likely see mostly low-leverage work.

Taylor allowed one hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning in Thursday's 5-1 loss to Boston.

EDGE Analysis

This was Taylor's first appearance since being activated from the injured list. He had been on the IL since mid-April due to a sprained ankle. Houston's bullpen has had a few blowups within the last two weeks, so Taylor could emerge with a high-leverage or setup role if he can get outs consistently.

The Astros are activating Taylor (ankle) from the injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Red Sox , Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor was placed on the injured list in mid-April with a severely sprained ankle. The southpaw has been rehabbing at Triple-A Sugar Land during the past week and will now rejoin the Astros' bullpen Monday against Boston.

Taylor (ankle) is expected to throw two innings in his next rehab outing, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Taylor has tossed one inning in each of his first three rehab appearances, and he's posted a 6.00 ERA and 2.00 WHIP during that time. Taylor will apparently build up his innings count during his next outing, but he could return to the major-league bullpen shortly after if things go as planned.