Astros place OF Michael Brantley on IL with shoulder issue
The Houston Astros have placed five-time All-Star Michael Brantley on the injured list with right shoulder discomfortJUNE 28, 2022 • Associated Press
BRANDON BIELAK
Sent down Sunday Bielak was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact Bielak was recalled by the Astros in early June and was effective while serving as a multi-inning option. He posted a 1.29 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in seven innings over three relief appearances but will head back to the minors since the team will call up Enoli Paredes.
JUNE 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Called up by Houston Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday.
Impact Bielak was demoted to Triple-A just before Opening Day and will now receive his first look in the majors this season. The 26-year-old appeared in 28 games for the Astros in 2021 and had a 4.50 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 46:21 K:BB over 50 innings.
JUNE 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Moves to minors The Astros optioned Bielak to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact In addition to Bielak, the Astros also optioned Seth Martinez to Triple-A, clearing the way for Ronel Blanco and Bryan Abreu to secure the final two spots in Houston's Opening Day bullpen, according to Rome. Bielak had been competing for a long-relief role with Houston, but he could stretch out for starting duty as he heads to Sugar Land.
APRIL 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Heads to minors The Astros optioned Bielak to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact The righty allowed three runs in his most recent appearance Sept. 24 and finished the regular season with a 4.50 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 50 innings. Bielak is unlikely to make Houston's postseason roster.
OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Takes loss in short outing Bielak (3-4) allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three across three innings Friday, taking the loss to the Athletics.
Impact Bielak surrendered all three runs in the third inning, allowing four straight batters to reach base safely with one out. It was the first runs he's allowed dating back to July 17. As of late, Bielak has struggled with walks, issuing 10 free passes 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.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Montas reaches 200 Ks, A's pound first-place Astros 14-2
Frankie Montas pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and became the first Oakland pitcher in 20 years to reach 200 strikeouts in a season, helping the Athletics pound the Houston...SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • Associated Press
Astros' Zack Greinke scratched from start with neck soreness
Astros right-hander Zack Greinke was scratched from his scheduled start and placed on the 10-day injured list with neck sorenessSEPTEMBER 25, 2021 • Associated Press
Starting in place of Greinke 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 Chronicl...
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Valdez, González, Maldonado send Astros past Angels 10-0
The Houston Astros moved closer to the AL West title with a 10-0 victory over the Los Angeles AngelsSEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • Associated Press
Back in big leagues Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Calhoun, Varsho key 3-run 10th, Arizona beats Houston, 6-4
Kole Calhoun knocked in the go-ahead run with an RBI single and Daulton Varsho homered as the Arizona Diamondbacks scored three runs in the 10th inning for a 6-4 win over the Houst...SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • Associated Press
Sent to minors Bielak was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Fans six in short start 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.
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Diamondbacks lose 100th of season, fall 4-3 to Astros
Chas McCormick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning as the Houston Astros sent the Arizona Diamondbacks to their 100th loss with...SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • Associated Press
In line for spot start Bielak will draw a spot start Friday against the Diamondbacks, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Correa HR triggers 7-run 4th, Astros roll past Rangers 12-1
Carlos Correa triggered a seven-run fourth inning with a three-run homer, and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 12-1SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • Associated Press
Earns rare save Bielak pitched three scoreless innings Monday against the Mariners to pick up the save. He allowed just one hit and walked four guys to go along with three strikeouts.
Impact 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 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.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Meyers has homer, 4 RBIs as Astros rout Mariners 11-2
Rookie Jake Meyers homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros jumped on Yusei Kikuchi early and sailed to an 11-2 win over the Seattle MarinersSEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • Associated Press
Astros rally late against former teammate, top Mariners 4-3
Jake Meyers had the last of three singles as part of Houston’s eighth-inning rally against former teammate Joe Smith, scoring Kyle Tucker with the go-ahead run and sending the Astr...AUGUST 31, 2021 • Associated Press
Recalled by Astros Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact 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.
AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Stretching out at Triple-A Bielak is being stretched out at Triple-A Sugar Land, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Impact 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.
AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Greinke expected to start for the Astros against Angels
The Astros will start Zack Greinke on Friday and the Angels are expected to counter with Patrick SandovalAUGUST 13, 2021 • Associated Press
Giants hit 5 HRs, rough up Greinke, Astros 8-6
The San Francisco Giants hit five home runs, including four off Astros ace Zack Greinke, and beat Houston 8-6 in an interleague matchup of division leadersJULY 31, 2021 • Associated Press
Optioned to Triple-A Bielak was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Impact 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.
JULY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
