Bedard moved to bullpen for remainder of season

HOUSTON -- Veteran left-hander Erik Bedard, who's been one of the Astros' most consistent starting pitchers, has been moved to the bullpen for the rest of the season. Manager Bo Porter said Saturday the club wants to use his spot in the rotation to get a look at a younger arm.

Bedard, 34, signed a Minor League deal with the Astros and won an Opening Day spot, though he briefly began the year in the bullpen before moving to the rotation. He's 3-9 with a 4.48 ERA in 25 games this year, including 23 starts. He wasn't happy with the decision.

"I'm very surprised," he said. "I don't even know what to say."

Bedard was asked what the Astros told him.

"They said they looked at my last two years and my innings total was around where I'm at right now, and they said if I keep pitching I'll be about 40 over, and I said, 'Yeah, that's the point.' That's it. I'd rather stay in the rotation."

The Astros will continue to employ a six-man rotation and will announce which player is going into the rotation in the next few days. Lucas Harrell will remain in the bullpen. One of the candidates is rookie David Martinez, who won 14 games between Triple-A and Double-A before being called up Wednesday.

"We're at the point in the year, we only have one lefty down there and we want to take a look at these young guys and give them some extended innings in a starting role to better evaluate them as we head into the offseason," Porter said.

Brett Oberholtzer is scheduled to start Monday in Chicago against the White Sox, and Jarred Cosart will start Tuesday or Wednesday.