Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng will be the Astros' starter in Tuesday's 5:35 p.m. CT series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore, the team announced Monday, signaling a potential role change for the primary reliever.
Though Teng is listed as a "starter/opener," it's a notable move for Houston, as Teng has been the club's most effective reliever this season in a bullpen that has an MLB-worst 6.31 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.
Teng, acquired in a January trade with the Giants, has excelled in long relief this season. He's pitched to a 1-1 record with a 2.16 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP in 16 2/3 innings across 11 appearances.
The "starter/opener" designation matches most of Teng's previous starting experience. He made seven starts for San Francisco last season, going 1-4 with a 7.66 ERA over 24 2/3 innings in those games. His lone win came in a September start against the Rockies in which he went 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs. He did not pitch more than four innings in any other start.
Teng throws five pitches, focusing primarily on his slider, four-seam fastball and sinker -- nearly all of which have gained velocity this year. His fastballs are up more than one mph from 2025 -- the four-seam is averaging about 95 mph, while the sinker sits a bit over 94 mph.
“We're always looking for ways to optimally use the pitchers we have on our staff,” Astros pitching coach Josh Miller said last week. “He certainly put himself in that conversation. He's got really good stuff. He's got dynamic weapons from both sides, and it should be a matter of finding a spot for him and stretching him out, if we choose to do that.”