The Houston Astros are welcoming back reliever Shawn Dubin, who has been activated from the injured list to bolster their bullpen for a crucial matchup against the Reds. This comes after Logan VanWey was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land following a challenging outing where he gave up six earned runs in just 8⅔ innings over the season. Dubin's return is significant as he brings a fresh arm to a bullpen that was heavily utilized in a recent loss against Cincinnati, covering nearly nine innings after starter Lance McCullers Jr. left in the first inning.

Dubin's road back has been rocky, starting with a shoulder injury that sidelined him during spring training, and an ankle issue briefly sidetracked his recovery. However, he showed promise with a perfect minor-league stint, not allowing a run over four innings in his rehab appearances. Over the last two seasons, Dubin has posted a 4.64 ERA across 34 games, and Manager Joe Espada indicated he could be relied upon for 25-30 pitches initially. The Astros are hoping Dubin can provide stability as they navigate a tight pennant race.