Ohtani returns to the mound as Angels visit Astros

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros fared decently the last time they faced Shohei Ohtani more than four months ago.

The Astros will get another crack at Ohtani on Sunday afternoon when they conclude a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels.

Ohtani will make first start on the mound since June 6. He missed 22 games on the disabled list with a right UCL sprain but returned exclusively as a designated hitter on July 3.

When Houston's hitters saw him April 24 in Houston, Ohtani allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He threw 98 pitches and issued five walks in an 8-7 victory.

To prepare for his 10th career start, Ohtani threw up to 50 pitches in bullpen sessions and will be on a pitch limit.

"Very excited," Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters on Thursday. "But obviously, I don't know if we could put those expectations that we had for Shohei when he really hit stride, have those expectations what he's going to come out and do for Sunday. Hopefully, he's going to get back to that."

Ohtani will oppose Gerrit Cole, who is 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA in his last three starts after a three-start losing streak.

Cole is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Angels (66-70) this season and 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in four career starts.

With rosters expanding Saturday throughout the majors, the Astros added two pitchers with one, left-hander Cionel Perez, poised to join an already crowded bullpen.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch had 10 relievers at his disposal on Saturday as the Astros (83-53) rallied for a 7-3 victory. With right-hander Charlie Morton set for reinstatement from the 10-day disabled list next weekend in Boston, left-hander Framber Valdez or right-hander Josh James, who made his debut against the Angels, is likely to be bumped from the rotation.

Currently, Hinch has eight right-handers and two lefties in his bullpen heading into the finale of a four-game series with the Angels.

"It depends on how our pitching staff goes," Hinch said of predicting future bullpen usage. "Most of the season our starters have logged the majority of the innings as they should; they've gone deep into games. I know I've cut back a little bit of that in August, some of it out of performance, some of it out of trying to work the bullpen in there. I guess we have the weapons, but I'm still going to read the game.

"I don't think I need to aggressively change a ton. We're trying to get to 27 outs, we're trying to get to as many wins. If the starters get the bulk of those outs, great. If I've got to go to the pen early I have the reinforcements. Most of the time in September you don't worry about running out of pitching."

The Angels on Saturday selected the contract of veteran right-hander Junichi Tazawa from Triple-A Salt Lake. Tazawa is the fifth Japanese native in club history, including Ohtani. He signed as a free agent with the Angels on July 13.

Tazawa, 32, spent his first seven seasons in the majors with the Boston Red Sox, finishing 17-20 with a 3.58 ERA and four saves in 56 appearances (four starts) from 2009 to 2016. He subsequently made 16 appearances with the Miami Marlins in parts of two seasons before being released May 21 and went 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA in seven games with Salt Lake.

"He still has plenty of velocity, spins the ball really well, and he's a veteran pitcher that can make pitches," Scioscia said. "He threw the ball well down below and hopefully he'll continue to bring it up here and throw the ball with the consistency that he has."