Brandon Bielak Fantasy Stats

The Oakland Athletics acquired right-hander Brandon Bielak from the Houston Astros on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations. The move comes after the Astros had designated Bielak for assignment. The 28-year-old will stay in the American League West and will take his 5.71 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 17 1/3 relief innings to the Bay Area. Bielak has spent all five of his big-league seasons with the Astros since debuting in the big leagues in 2020. Over that time, he's posted a 4.65 ERA (5.25 FIP), a 1.52 WHIP, one save, 85 walks and 155 strikeouts in 191 2/3 innings over 70 appearances (21 starts). Bielak has some starting experience, but he's unlikely to be used as anything more than a spot starter with the A's when their rotation needs some help.

If Houston Astros right-handers Justin Verlander (shoulder) and J.P. France (shoulder) aren't ready for the start of the 2024 regular season, it's possible that right-handers Ronel Blanco and Brandon Bielak could be starting rotation options to begin the year. It's worth noting that Bielak is out of minor-league options. Blanco, 30, has appeared in 24 games (seven starts) for Houston the last two years and has gone 2-1 with a 4.78 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 32 walks and 59 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings. Bielak, 27, probably the more likely option of the two, had 15 outings (13 starts) last year in Houston and had a 3.83 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 62 K's in 80 innings. He filled in admirably for the team's injury-ravaged rotation in 2023 until struggling later in the year and being demoted to the minors.

The Houston Astros optioned right-hander Brandon Bielak to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday and recalled right-hander Shawn Dubin from Round Rock in a corresponding move. Bielak forced the Astros' hand after allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday to drop his ERA on the year to 4.37 (5.65 FIP). He also has a 1.61 WHIP, 18 walks and 37 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings this year over nine appearances (eight starts) for Houston. The 27-year-old will work on his mechanics in the minor leagues in hopes of getting another shot at a starting rotation spot for the Astros in 2023.

Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Brandon Bielak gave up one run over five innings in a winning effort against the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The 27-year-old struck out nine hitters, walking three and allowing five hits. Bielak got the job done as a fantasy plug-and-play option for managers who turned to the innings eater in a cushy spot in this one. His rest-of-season outlook is certainly murky, but Bielak is worth deploying in the right matchup while Houston's rotation is ravaged by injuries. He will be on streaming map once again on Wednesday against an average Milwaukee Brewers lineup.