August is flying by, and it'll only be a matter of time before the 2025 MLB playoffs are here. All signs point to the Houston Astros making a ninth consecutive postseason appearance as they boast an American League West-leading 69-56 record ahead of Tuesday evening's clash with the Detroit Tigers.
The month winding down also means time is running out for players to prove they belong on a postseason roster. Players must be on an MLB roster as of 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31, and failing to do so will leave them ineligible to suit up in October. In other words, the Astros only have room to roster the most helpful contributors, which is why they've cut ties with a reliever they just reunited with.
The Astros designated Tayler Scott for assignment. Logan VanWey recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land.
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 19, 2025
Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara is reporting that the Astros are finished with veteran reliever Tayler Scott, designating him for assignment Tuesday afternoon. In a subsequent move, Houston promoted fellow right-handed pitcher Logan VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land.
Astros DFA RHP Tayler Scott After Monday's Disaster vs. Tigers
Scott's DFA will likely mark the end of his second stint with the Astros. The former 2011 fifth-rounder spent all of 2024 with Houston and returned for the 2025 campaign, only to be DFA'd on May 14 after going 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA and a blown save in 17 relief appearances. He eventually cleared waivers and elected free agency, leading to his joining the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Unsurprisingly, Scott's struggles followed him to the desert, where he tallied a pitiful 9.00 ERA in six relief outings with the Diamondbacks. He was DFA'd to begin July before returning to the Astros three days later, this time having to start with the Space Cowboys until he provided that he deserved to rejoin the big-league club.
After a decent run in Triple-A, Scott was promoted back to the Majors on Monday; however, it ended up being a move the Astros likely want back. The South African veteran served as live batting practice for the Tigers, who hammered him for five earned runs and two homers on 42 pitches across 1 2/3 innings in the 10-0 defeat.
A reliable bullpen is a must when it comes to winning a World Series, which is why Scott no longer had a place in the Astros' unit. He can't be trusted at the MLB level at this stage of his career and will likely need to prove himself in another organization's minor-league system before being given another big-league shot.
Hopefully, the Astros learned their lesson from their second failed partnership with Scott. There's no need to believe that the saying, "the third time is the charm," will apply to him based on what Houston fans saw on Monday night.