Astros roster moves: Keuchel scratched from start, Buchanan optioned, Oberholtzer recalled

On Saturday, the Astros announced that Dallas Keuchel had been scratched from his start due to wrist inflammation. That required the team to call up a spot starter. Instead of trying to stretch out either Jake Buchanan or Jerome Williams, the Astros chose to option Buchanan to Triple-A Oklahoma City and recall Brett Oberholtzer for the third time this season.

Oberholtzer has thrown the fifth-most innings on the team this season. In 51 innings, he's got a 4.76 ERA and a 3.63 FIP with 40 strikeouts and 12 walks. He's allowed a .284 batting average and has a .331 BABiP in the majors. In 31 innings for Oklahoma City, he's got a 4.65 ERA with a 1-2 record and 31 strikeouts with three walks. He hasn't pitched in a big league game since May 30, when he allowed four hits and one run in seven innings against the Orioles.

Buchanan made two appearances with the Astros in his brief major league stint. In his start against Tampa Bay a week ago, he allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings. But, in his only relief appearance last night, Buchanan pitched a scoreless inning of relief, helping the Astros extend the game to the 11th inning when Castro won it with a game-winning home run.

There's no indication the Keuchel injury will last, but it might explain his recent stretch of games. Keuchel has allowed four runs in each of his last two starts after only allowing more than three runs twice in his previous 13 starts.