The Astros recalled left-handed starter J.A. Happ from Triple-A Oklahoma City following Wednesday's heartbreaking 7-6 loss in 10 innings against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
He'll get the starting nod Friday at San Francisco.
In a corresponding roster move, Houston has optioned rookie J.B. Shuck to Triple-A in order to trim manager Brad Mills' active roster back down to five outfielders -- without counting slugger Carlos Lee -- who continues to start routinely at first base.
Happ, 28, went 4-14 with a 6.26 ERA over 119 1/3 innings in 22 starts for the Astros this season prior to being optioned to Triple-A on Aug. 6.
He took over the National League lead in losses at the time of his demotion and now finds himself tied with Hiroki Kuroda and Paul Maholm for the league lead in the same respective category.
Astros general manager Ed Wade and Mills agreed it was in the best interest of Happ and the organization to get him out of the major league environment in order for him to restore confidence, resolve lingering issues and rediscover certain strengths.
Houston elected to evaluate Happ over two or three starts at Oklahoma City before making a decision when best to recall him.
Ultimately, Happ did everything asked of him and got back on track, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 18 innings in three starts while holding opposing hitters to a .177 batting average.
With Houston recently optioning Jordan Lyles to Oklahoma City to begin monitoring his innings, ace Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, Bud Norris, Henry Sosa and Happ now make up the starting rotation.
The 24-year-old Shuck showed tremendous potential in his first career big league stint, hitting .275 (11-for-40) with two RBI, two doubles, a stolen base and four runs scored in 15 games.
He earned a 2011 Pacific Coast League All-Star selection for the RedHawks and hit .302 with 27 RBI, 10 doubles, seven triples and 19 stolen bases while compiling a .401 on-base percentage before having his contract purchased by Houston on Aug. 5.
Shuck, a sixth-round pick by the Astros in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, will likely return when big league rosters expand in September.
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