Bielak (3-4) allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three across three innings, taking the loss to the Athletics on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak surrendered a three-run third inning, allowing four straight batters to reach base safely with one out. It was the first runs he's allowed in his last seven appearances dating back to July 17. As of late, Bielak has struggled with walks, issuing 10 free bags in his last 11.2 innings. The 25-year-old has a 4.50 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 46 punchouts in 50 innings this season.

Bielak will start in place of Zack Greinke on Friday against Oakland after Greinke was placed on the 10-day injured list with neck soreness, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak's last major-league outing also came in a spot start Sept. 17 against Arizona. He logged 2.2 scoreless innings during that start before being optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land, although he returned to the Astros just two days later. Bielak figures to have a hard time working deep into Friday's game given that he hasn't eclipsed 3.1 innings all season.

Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak was optioned Saturday but is back already without having made a minor-league appearance. He'll offer length out of the bullpen for the Astros, as he's done for most of the season.

Bielak was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak would likely have been unavailable for a few days after he was called upon to throw 2.2 innings in a spot start Friday. The Astros elected to swap him out for a fresh arm, calling up Peter Solomon to take his place.

Bielak pitched 2.2 scoreless innings against Arizona on Friday, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. He did not factor in the decision.

EDGE Analysis

The right-handed reliever was called into action for a spot start after Framber Valdez (finger) was scratched Thursday. Bielak performed well enough in his first start of the campaign, keeping the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard while racking up six punchouts in just 2.2 frames. He wasn't very efficient -- Bielak needed 55 pitches to retire eight batters -- but none of the hits against him went for extra bases, and he was able to escape a bases-loaded situation in the first inning. He'll likely return to the bullpen but will almost certainly be down a few days given his larger-than-normal workload Friday.

Bielak will draw a spot start Friday against the Diamondbacks, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros had to scratch Framber Valdez (finger) from Thursday's start, so the team is shuffling its rotation as a result. Bielak has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen to this point in the season, though he has completed three innings in each of his last two outings. Even so, it's unlikely he'll be able to work deep enough into the contest to qualify for a win.

Bielak pitched three scoreless innings Monday against the Mariners to pick up the save. He allowed just one hit and walked four while striking out three batters.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros won this game by nine runs, but because Bielak threw the final three innings, he gets the save. He struggled with his command and had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth after walking back-to-back batters, but got Cal Raleigh to ground into a 3-6-3 double play to end the game. Bielak owns a 4.79 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB over 41.1 innings and likely won't figure to see any more save chances the rest of the way.

Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak has been stretching out at Triple-A Sugar Land recently, and he tossed five innings during his last appearance. The right-hander will be available as a long reliever in the Astros' bullpen after Bryan Abreu was sent down Monday.

Bielak is being stretched out at Triple-A Sugar Land, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak made two starts since being sent down to the Skeeters at the end of July and has thrown a combined 128 pitches over 6.2 innings. The Astros appear to be preparing him as starter depth during the month of September, when they could turn to a six-man rotation once Jose Urquidy (shoulder) returns. Houston has a stretch of 17 games in 17 days from Sept. 10 to Sept. 26, so having another long arm on hand could be useful, given that Luis Garcia and Jake Odorizzi have been essentially five-inning starters.

Bielak was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak made just four relief appearances since the start of July, and he recorded a win with a 2.35 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 7.2 innings. His removal from the active roster will make room for newly acquired Phil Maton.