Harrell has been confirmed as the starter for Saturday's game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

The Braves optioned fellow pitcher Casey Kelly on Saturday in order to clear room for Harrell on the active roster. Harrell, 31, owns a 2.81 ERA with 27 strikeouts and 19 walks over 32.0 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett this season.

Diamondbacks acquired RHP Lucas Harrell from the Astros in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations; assigned him to Triple-A Reno. Harrell had been designated for assignment by the Astros earlier this month after posting a 9.49 ERA in three starts. He'll provide the Diamondbacks with some starting pitching depth in the minors.

Astros sent RHP Lucas Harrell outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Harrell was designated for assignment by Houston last week after posting a 9.49 ERA in three starts. The right-hander passed through waivers without drawing a claim.

Astros designated RHP Lucas Harrell for assignment. Harrell surprisingly cracked the Opening Day rotation, but he floundered with a 9.49 ERA over his first three starts. The Astros could move Jerome Williams in from the bullpen to take Harrell's rotation spot.

Lucas Harrell struggled again on Tuesday, allowing four runs in five innings in a loss to the Royals. Harrell allowed five hits, including an Omar Infante home run, and walked three in the contest. He also struck out four. The subpar outing moved him to 0-3 with a 9.49 ERA and 2.27 WHIP, and it gets increasingly harder to see how Astros manager Bo Porter will continue running him out there every fifth day for much longer. For now, he'll next take the hill Sunday at the Athletics.

Lucas Harrell gave up five runs -- four earned -- in 4 1/3 innings to take a loss Wednesday against the Angels. Harrell was terrible last year, was terrible this spring and has been terrible in two starts since being gifted with a spot in Houston's rotation. We imagine this will be it for him as a starter for now. He's 0-2 with an 11.05 ERA and a 2.73 WHIP to date.

Lucas Harrell has been announced as one of the Astros' five starters. Harrell represents the best of a bad group of options for the Astros -- and it's arguable that he's among the best, even -- so his spot in the rotation is more of an indictment on his peers than praise for him as a starter. The right-hander owned a 7.80 ERA over 15 innings this spring.

Lucas Harrell bounced back from last week's 10-run shelling to hold the Phillies to one run in 4 1/3 innings on Thursday. Facing a split-squad that included three likely regulars, Harrell allowed six hits, walked two and struck out none. He remains in the mix for a spot in Houston's rotation, but he's the weakest of the four candidates for two openings.

Lucas Harrell was lit up for 10 runs -- nine earned -- and 12 hits in 1 2/3 innings by the Tigers on Saturday. The Astros had been saying the right things about Harrell this spring, but if they had more confidence in him, then they wouldn't have signed Jerome Williams last month. Harrell is out of options, so he probably will have a spot on the staff. It shouldn't be assured, though.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that Lucas Harrell is drawing trade interest. The Astros would have been better off dealing Harrell last offseason, as he's coming off a disappointing 5.86 ERA and 89/88 K/BB ratio over 153 2/3 innings in 2013. Still, someone will be willing to take a chance on a rebound. The 28-year-old won't be arbitration-eligible until next winter.