In the aftermath of getting shelled for a second consecutive start, Astros left-hander Framber Valdez was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock, putting an already taxed Houston staff on alert.

The Astros turned to a pair of position players -- first baseman Tyler White and catcher Max Stassi -- to mop up their 14-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, not only setting up a rubber match of this three-game interleague series Thursday but readying for a difficult stretch with either a shortened bullpen or the addition of another minor leaguer to the staff.

"I pitched two position players, so that tells you where our bullpen is and where this game was," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "We will have to take a look at all our options and see how we navigate. We got four more games in a row, the two games at Coors Field (July 2-3) that are looming, which are always difficult. We will look at our options and see what's best to get us through these games."