Report: Houston Astros left-handed reliever Blake Taylor starts pitching

After being placed on the 15-day injured list on June 4 with left elbow discomfort, Blake Taylor’s return to the Houston Astros bullpen didn’t appear to be happening anytime soon following his transfer to 60 days on June 1. July.

Taylor began throwing Thursday at the Astros’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. With Parker Mushinski in Triple-A Sugar Land, Houston currently has a southpaw on Framber Valdez’s staff.

Without a southpaw out of the bullpen, the Astros did just fine without a specialist. Ryne Stanek, Héctor Neris and Phil Maton favor left-handed hitters based on their respective divisions.

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Taylor pitched 16 innings before being placed on the disabled list with a 3.94 ERA and nine strikeouts on 10 walks. The southpaw is yet to be picked in his three-year major league career, while an expected return has yet to be announced.

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