The Houston Astros have made a significant change to their bullpen ahead of their series against the Seattle Mariners, optioning reliever Luis Contreras to Triple-A Sugar Land while promoting Logan VanWey from the same affiliate. This decision comes after an exhausting stretch for the Astros' bullpen, which logged over 12 innings in their last two games against the Minnesota Twins. Contreras, who has struggled and is one of the few relievers with options, has been replaced by VanWey, a promising right-hander seeking his MLB debut. VanWey impressed during spring training with a 1.32 ERA in 13⅔ innings, and his solid performance at Triple-A last year, where he posted a 3.22 ERA across 72⅔ innings, makes him a valuable addition for Houston.

To make room, the Astros transferred starter Luis Garcia to the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from elbow inflammation stemming from Tommy John surgery. Garcia's situation adds urgency to the Astros' need for fresh arms, and the hope is that VanWey can step up and provide much-needed support in the late innings, especially considering the strain already felt on the bullpen.