BALTIMORE -- With their bullpen stretched and tired from a series of short starting-pitching performances, the Astros added a fresh arm Friday when they called up right-hander Brad Peacock from Triple-A Fresno and optioned rookie reliever James Hoyt back down.
Astros starting pitchers had pitched past the fifth inning only once in the team's previous seven games entering Friday, and the innings were piling up in the bullpen. Peacock was called up briefly earlier this month and didn't appear in a game, but he gives manager A.J. Hinch a long reliever who can chew up innings while the bullpen is short.