Bielak (3-3) allowed four runs on five hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out three across two innings Saturday as he took the loss against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak came out to start the fifth in place of Lance McCullers and got off to a nice start with a quick 1-2-3 inning. The right-hander returned for the sixth and allowed a couple of early base runners before Nick Solak was able to single home Willie Calhoun with two outs in the inning to give the Rangers their first lead. Bielak escaped with just the one run earned and came back out for the seventh. He allowed the first two batters to reach before Jeff Mathis took him deep to left to put the Rangers up 4-1. Bielak's night was done immediately afterward. He holds a 6.75 ERA and 26:17 K:BB over 32 innings heading into playoffs.

Bielak didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels, giving up four runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings in a 10-9 loss. He struck out five without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

He put his name in the history books by serving up Mike Trout's 300th career homer, but it was an otherwise forgettable effort from Bielak, who needed 77 pitches (52 strikes) to record 11 outs. He'll likely move into long relief from here on out, and the rookie's 6.00 ERA and 1.59 WHIP make him an unappealing fantasy option in a low-leverage role.

Manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that he expects Bielak and Jose Urquidy (undisclosed) to make starts in Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels in some order, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Baker suggested Wednesday that Cy Sneed and Luis Garcia were candidates to make starts in the twin bill, but Urquidy apparently impressed in his throwing session Thursday, leaving Houston optimistic he'll be ready to make his season debut this weekend. Meanwhile, Bielak will be given another chance to redeem himself after two rough outings in a row, during which he recorded only six outs while giving up 11 runs (10 earned) on eight hits and four walks. Assuming Urquidy feels fine coming out of his start, he should permanently take over as the fifth member of Houston's rotation, likely bumping Bielak to the bullpen next week as a result. If Bielak shows improved form in Saturday's outing, he would at least cement himself as the next man up to start if a rotation spot should reopen at some point.

Bielak is one of three pitchers that manager Dusty Baker could start in one of Saturday's doubleheader games, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak's hold on a spot in the rotation became tenuous following a two-start run in which he allowed 11 runs over two innings. In addition to Bielak, the manager mentioned Cy Sneed and Luis Garcia as potential starters.

Bielak (3-2) did not make it out of the first inning and took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels. He allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning in the 12-5 loss.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak made the start on short rest so the outcome is not surprising. The rookie hurler managed to sidestep trouble earlier this season, when he walked 11 over the first 21.1 innings, but major league hitters have caught up to him. Bielak's allowed 11 runs on eight hits (four home runs) and three walks over the last two innings. With off days coming up on the schedule, the Astros can avoid using Bielak until Sept. 5.

Bielak will start Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He will be making the start on two days of rest, but only logged 1.1 innings in his Aug. 22 start against the Padres, so he is more rested than a typical starter on short rest. This would have been his day to toss a side session, so he will essentially get that work in during a game that counts in what should amount to a bullpen game for the Astros. Houston won't need a fifth starter again until a doubleheader against the Angels on Sept. 5, so we could see Bielak briefly transition to the bullpen or the alternate training site following Tuesday's start.

Bielak (3-1) took the loss against San Diego on Saturday, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing seven runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak entered the game having given up four earned runs through his first 21.1 big-league innings, but the Padres nearly doubled that run total while making only four outs against the rookie. Of the five hits given up by Bielak, four were home runs, including a pair of long balls off the bat of Trent Grisham. Bielak's ERA soared from 1.69 to 4.37 as a result of his first major-league loss, and the outing was the shortest of his career. The 24-year-old will try to recover when he next takes the mound Thursday at home against the Angels.

Bielak (3-0) gave up a run on a hit and four walks and struck out four over six innings in Monday's 2-1 win over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

The only hit Bielak gave up was a solo home run to Trevor Story in the third inning. Monday marked Bielak's first win as a starter -- his previous two victories came in relief efforts. The 24-year-old has a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 21.1 innings across five total appearances this season. His next turn in the rotation is Saturday in San Diego.

Bielak didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's contest between the Astros and the Giants. He gave up two runs on six hits and one walk while fanning four in five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak has looked serviceable in his first two starts of the season, giving up just two runs in a combined 10 innings, although he owns a 5:4 K:BB in that span. If he stays in the rotation for another start, that would come Aug. 17 at home against the Rockies.

Bielak is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Giants, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bielak made his first two MLB appearances in long relief for the Astros before he was thrust into the rotation Aug. 6 in Arizona as a replacement for Josh James, who was moved to the bullpen. The right-hander was highly impressive in his first big-league start, spinning five shutout innings and permitting five baserunners in the Astros' loss. He'll draw a favorable matchup Tuesday in his second career start, taking the hill at home against a Giants offense that hasn't scored more than five runs in any of its last six games.