Bielak (2-3) allowed five earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three across 1.1 innings, taking the loss Monday to the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak retired the side in the eighth inning, but recorded just one out while allowing five runs to score in the ninth frame. He surrendered a two-run home run to Austin Hays. The 25-year-old has struggled as of late, giving up 10 runs over his last five appearances. He has a 6.21 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 29 innings.

The Astros recalled Bielak from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak joins the Houston bullpen as a replacement for Joe Smith (elbow), who was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. The 25-year-old right-hander previously made 13 relief appearances for Houston, posting a 3.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 17:8 K:BB in 22.2 innings.

Bielak was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 25-year-old allowed four unearned runs over the past two days and will head to the minors in favor of a fresh arm. Bielak has a 3.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 22.2 innings for Houston this season.

Bielak (2-2) was credited with the win in relief Wednesday, when he allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two against the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak entered during the fourth inning with Houston leading 3-0 after starter Jose Urquidy departed with "posterior shoulder discomfort." The reliever retired 10 of the first 11 Angels faced and threw 41 strikes among his 53 pitches. Urquidy, who was sharper Wednesday than in any of his seven preceding starts, is day-to-day and has not been ruled out for his next start scheduled for Tuesday in Oakland.

Bielak (1-1) was tagged with the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out one in a 7-3 loss to the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak, who entered after starter Zack Greinke lasted just four innings, pitched a scoreless fifth before departing with two on and two out in the sixth. Bryan Abreu came in and walked the nine-hole hitter before an Alex Bregman throwing error cleared the bases. Bielak, a starter turned reliever, has thrown more than one inning in five of his six outings and has a 4.30 ERA over 14.2 innings.

Bielak allowed two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

This was the third multi-inning outing in four appearances for Bielak. He's been part of a bullpen that's been overworked of late, as Astros starters not named Zack Grienke haven't been getting deep into games. In four appearances, Bielak has a 3.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 10 innings.

Bielak (1-0) earned the win Sunday against Oakland, striking out four in 4.2 innings of relief without allowing a single baserunner.

EDGE Analysis

It's rare that the reliever who picks up a win after a starter fails to throw five innings truly deserves the honor, but this is not one of those cases. Bielak's innings weren't particularly stressful, as he entered with a four-run lead in the bottom of the fifth and saw that extended to seven runs in the top of the sixth, but he couldn't have handled his assignment much more impressively. Bielak isn't the sort of pitcher who would be expected to retire 14 straight batters, as he struggled to a 6.75 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in his 32-inning debut last season, but it's possible his outing signals the start of something new.

Bielak will serve as a reliever to begin the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak was in the mix to start the Astros' fifth game of the regular season Monday, but manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Luis Garcia will serve as the team's fifth starter while Jake Odorizzi (conditioning) is unavailable. Bielak should take on a multi-inning role out of the bullpen this season. The right-hander made five appearances (two starts) this spring and posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 16 innings.

Bielak or Luis Garcia will start the fifth game of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak, who's been a fill-in starter for the Astros during spring training, will have a multi-inning role to start the regular season. It's just comes down to whether that will be as a starter or out of the bullpen. The No. 5 starter job will eventually belong to Jake Odorizzi once he's built up innings and pitch count. Until then, Bielak or Garcia will serve in that role, and whichever one doesn't start will be part of the bullpen.

Bielak allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three over four scoreless innings in Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

This was likely Bielak's final appearance during Grapefruit League play. While he allowed eight runs over 16 spring innings, the right-hander finished strong with two runs allowed in nine innings across the last two outings. He's expected to help the Astros get through the first couple of turns of the rotation, as Jake Odorizzi, Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier are not stretched out enough to go deep into games.