The Astros were forced to start reliever Dayan Diaz in a 7-5 loss to the Royals on Wednesday, and Houston wound up using five pitchers in a game in which lefty Dallas Keuchel was scratched minutes before the first pitch. The team is calling Keuchel's condition an illness, but no further details were provided.
Even before Wednesday's game, the Astros' bullpen had been taxed as a result of starters routinely not pitching deep into games, with the exception of Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. With three starters on the disabled list -- Collin McHugh, Joe Musgrove and Charlie Morton -- long reliever Brad Peacock has been moved to the rotation and No.