Teng Kai-wei optioned to Triple-A after rough MLB outing

Taipei, June 28 (CNA) Taiwan-native pitcher Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威) was optioned to Triple-A by the Houston Astros on Saturday after struggling in his start against the Detroit Tigers, allowing five runs -- four earned -- including a grand slam.

The grand slam was hit by Kerry Carpenter in the third inning before Teng was pulled in the bottom of the fourth. He allowed eight hits and one walk over 3 2/3 innings while striking out one batter.

A late comeback by Houston took the Taiwanese right-hander off the hook for what would have been his seventh loss of 2026, with the Astros ultimately beating the Tigers 8-6 on the latter's home field.

During Saturday's game, Teng also faced fellow Taiwanese player Lee Hao-yu (李灝宇) twice. Lee singled in his first at-bat and flied out in his second. He later crushed a solo home run to right field off Astros reliever Steven Okert in the bottom of the fifth for his third homer of the season.

Following the poor outing, the Astros optioned Teng to Triple-A, with Miguel Ullola taking his place on the active roster.

Teng was the only Taiwanese player to make an Opening Day roster in Major League Baseball (MLB) when the 2026 season began in March.

Before his demotion, he had a 4-6 record with a 4.36 ERA. He appeared in 23 games for the Astros this season, including 10 starts.

Teng later told Chandler Rome, a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Astros, that he was feeling some "fatigue and tiredness" compared with the start of the season.

"The past two seasons, I only pitched 70 to 80 innings a year, and this year it's only halfway through the season, but I'm already approaching that inning count," Teng said through an interpreter.

He has pitched 64 innings this year.

"There is some fatigue, but it's still manageable," Teng was quoted as saying by Rome.