On Sunday, the Astros optioned RHP Forrest Whitley, RHP Shawn Dubin and RHP JP France to Triple A Sugar Land. Additionally, RHP Joe Record was reassigned to minor league camp.
As Chandler Rome assessed, Whitley was never going to start the season with the major league roster, and the Astros would like to build up his pitch count, and he won't get that opportunity currently in the Grapefruit League with the major league pitchers trying to build up their pitch counts.
But could we see Whitley at some point with the Astros this season? There's a good chance if he pitches well. In three Spring Training outings this year, Whitley pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs off nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts.