Orioles recall Evan Phillips

HOUSTON - The latest bullpen move for the Orioles has returned Evan Phillips to the majors.

Phillips has been recalled again this morning after the Orioles optioned Branden Kline following last night's 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Astros. He's a fresh arm with his last appearance coming Wednesday.

Phillips' next appearance with the Orioles will be his 13th. He's allowed 10 runs and 14 hits with 11 walks and 17 strikeouts in 13 innings.

The results are strikingly different with Triple-A Norfolk, where Phillips has allowed only one run and four hits, with three walks and 11 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings.

The Orioles optioned Phillips on March 24 in a late round of camp cuts, though he tossed 9 2/3 scoreless innings in the Grapefruit League.

He was recalled on April 9 while the Orioles placed Alex Cobb and Nate Karns on the injured list, optioned on May 11 when Jimmy Yacabonis joined the club, recalled on May 15 as the 26th man of a doubleheader and returned to Norfolk afterward, recalled on May 26 while first baseman Chris Davis went on the injured list and optioned the following day.

He's back, and for how long is anyone's guess.

Kline was scored upon in his last five appearances and left the Orioles with a 5.89 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 18 1/3 innings. He took the loss last night in the 11th inning after Robinson Chirinos poked a run-scoring double down the left field line.

Kline's slump hit after he struck out the side on May 24 in Denver.

Meanwhile, Andrew Cashner is pitching on seven days' rest this afternoon. He's 3-7 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.116 WHIP in 16 career games (eight starts) against the Astros.

Cashner's never won at Minute Maid Park, going 0-3 with a 5.82 ERA and 1.200 WHIP in eight games (three starts) over 21 2/3 innings.

Jose Altuve is on the injured list, which is good for Cashner. He's 9-for-20 with two doubles and a home run against the veteran right-hander.

Josh Reddick is 1-for-15 and Alex Bregman is 1-for-12.

Astros left-hander Framber Valdez has registered a 3.12 ERA in 14 relief appearances after going 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA in eight games (five starts) last summer. He's allowed nine earned runs (10 total) and 22 hits with 13 walks in 26 innings.

Left-handers are batting .156/.282/.188 against Valdez, who faced the Orioles in relief last season and allowed a run over 2 1/3 innings.

The current Orioles are 0-for-3 against him.