The Houston Astros have made a strategic move to bolster their bullpen by recalling Luis Contreras from Triple-A Sugar Land after a taxing outing against the Oakland Athletics. The Astros faced a blowout loss, leading to significant pitching strain, especially from Nick Hernandez, who pitched 59 pitches in just 2⅔ innings. Hernandez has been optioned to Triple-A to manage the team's workload, while Contreras, who has a 3.34 ERA in 30 relief appearances this season, joins the roster hoping to provide fresh arms.

This adjustment comes after starter Ryan Gusto's early exit in the previous game against the A's, which forced the Astros to rely on multiple relievers, including position player Cooper Hummel, who pitched the ninth inning to save key arms for the remaining homestand. Despite this, key high-leverage pitchers like Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa remain rested, potentially setting the stage for a stronger performance in upcoming games.