Astros place Kai-Wei Teng on IL with knee sprain

Teng was knocked around for five runs (four earned) over 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Tigers on Saturday. With Cristian Javier set to rejoin the rotation next week though, he became expendable. He’ll continue to serve as extra rotation depth for the Astros at the Triple-A level.

Kai-Wei Teng will likely be sent down to make room. It’ll be the 24-year-old Ullola’s first stint in the majors. He opened this year going 1-4 with a 6.21 ERA in 10 starts for Triple-A Sugar Land, but he was shifted to the pen at the end of last month and since has a 2.70 ERA and a 16/6 K/BB in 10 innings. He might only be up until Cristian Javier rejoins the rotation next weekend.

Teng hung a third-inning curveball over the plate to Kerry Carpenter, who promptly deposited the offering into the right-field seats for a go-ahead grand slam. It was one of eight hits that he allowed in the abbreviated outing where he finished with just one strikeout. The 27-year-old’s spot in Houston’s rotation appears to be in serious jeopardy, especially with Cristian Javier (shoulder) on the precipice of making it back to the majors. He’s tentatively scheduled to face the Rays next weekend, but that seems highly likely to change.

A little bit of a surprise, as it seemed likely that Javier would be activated this weekend. Hunter Brown is expected to start Sunday. Teng pitched well last time out, holding the Guardians to one run in six innings on Saturday, but his ERA stands at 5.06 in eight outings since he moved into the rotation.

Teng struck out four and threw 83 pitches, lowering his ERA to 4.03. He’s been a regular in Houston’s rotation over the past month out of necessity, but this was his best start since May 23. The Astros are getting some starting pitchers back healthy now, so Teng could return to the bullpen. The next turn in his rotation lines up against the Tigers on the road.

Teng gave up six hits, walked two and struck out nine. On one hand, he’s now allowed 17 runs and six home runs in his last four starts. On the other hand, he’s had at least five strikeouts in five of his last six starts. Teng’s strikeout ability was on display against the Tigers Monday as he racked up nine strikeouts. He could be the odd man out of the rotation with Hunter Brown set to return on Tuesday.

It was a forgettable start for Teng, starting with a pair of runs in the first inning on a bases-loaded hit batter and a groundout. The Angels would get to him for five more runs in the second inning, including a pair of two-run doubles by Wade Meckler and Jo Adell. Teng would hang on for two more scoreless frames, ending his day after four innings with five strikeouts. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 3.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 49/24 K/BB ratio across 51 innings into a start against the Tigers in Houston next Tuesday.

Teng also issued a pair of walks in the ballgame while recording only one strikeout. The Pirates scratched out a run against him in the opening inning, and that was the lone run for either team in the contest through the first five frames. The Bucs broke it open in the sixth though, striking for four runs — including a two-run blast off the bat of Ryan O’Hearn. Teng got 10 swings and misses on 87 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 26 percent. He’ll look to bounce back as he carries a 3.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 44/21 K/BB ratio (47 innings) into Tuesday’s battle against the Angels in Los Angeles.

Teng fanned seven and allowed just three hits, but he walked four and two of the hits he gave up were homers from David Hamilton and Jackson Chourio. Hamilton’s was a 343-footer that was a homer in exactly one ballpark, according to Statcast. As such, we’ll rate this as another solid showing from Teng. He’s an option in deeper mixed leagues in a home start against the Pirates next week.

The Giants better turn catcher Jancel Villarroel into a legitimate prospect because giving up on Teng over the winter is looking like another clear miscue for Buster Posey and company. Despite never throwing more than three innings in a game previously this season, Teng has won back-to-back starts against the Rangers and now the Cubs, pitching 11 scoreless frames in the process and now has a 2.19 ERA in 37 innings overall. Unfortunately, assuming the Astros stick with their six-man rotation, it looks like he’ll face the Brewers at home rather than the Rangers on the road next week, making him a much poorer streaming option in mixed leagues.