Buchanan was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on Sunday. Buchanan has mostly handled mop-up duty over the last few weeks, giving up just two runs over nine innings in five appearances. His demotion frees up room on the 25-man roster for top prospect Carlos Correa.

Buchanan allowed a hit and a walk, but struck out two over 1.2 scoreless innings of relief during Thursday's loss at Detroit. With Samuel Deduno (back) on the DL, Buchanan has filled the void as the long-man out of the bullpen for the Astros. He's not likely to pitch in many high-leverage situations, however, as he has a 4.15 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over 39 Major League innings for his career.

Buchanan pitched two scoreless frames of relief during Monday's 2-1 loss to Oakland. Buchanan allowed one hit -- a double off the bat of Billy Butler -- but induced five ground ball outs and struck out a batter during his first appearance of the season for the Astros.

Buchanan was officially recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Thursday. Brett Oberholtzer (finger) is back on the DL and Buchanan was the choice to replace him on the active roster. The Astros have not named a starter for Monday's series opener against Oakland, but Buchanan is not expected to get the nod, as he's struggled to a 5.08 ERA and 15:5 K:BB in 33.2 innings with Fresno this season. Sam Deduno tossed two innings in relief of Oberholtzer on Wednesday and is a more likely candidate to start Monday.

Buchanan will be called up to take the roster spot of Brett Oberholtzer (finger), MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports. Buchanan has been working as a starter with Triple-A Fresno, but it seems likely he will fill a bullpen role with the big club. Buchanan appeared in 17 games, starting two, with the Astros last season and posted a 4.58 ERA and 20:12 K:BB ratio over 35.1 innings.

Buchanan was optioned to Astros' minor league camp on Sunday. Buchanan, who allowed seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 8.1 Grapefruit League innings, was beaten out by Samuel Deduno to be the Astros' long man out of the bullpen to open 2015. The 25-year-old will likely stretch out as a starter with Triple-A Fresno.

Buchanan has allowed seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 8.1 Grapefruit League innings this spring. Buchanan served as Houston's long man out of the bullpen for a good stretch last summer, but Samuel Deduno might have a leg up on him for that role to open 2015, assuming he doesn't win the fifth starter competition. In that case, Buchanan would likely open 2015 with Triple-A Fresno.

Buchanan (1-2) took the loss in the 15th inning of Tuesday's marathon at Philadelphia, allowing a run on three hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts over 3.2 innings of relief. Despite Tuesday's loss, Buchanan has pitched well as the long-man out of the Astros' bullpen thus far. In five relief appearances, he's only given up three runs in 10.2 innings.

Astros recalled RHP Jake Buchanan from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Buchanan allowed five runs over 5 1/3 relief innings last month for the Astros. He'll be used in low-leverage spots.

Astros optioned RHP Jake Buchanan to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Buchanan appeared in just two games with the Astros, picking up his first career victory in Friday's win over the Tigers. He will continue to serve as organizational depth.