KANSAS CITY -- The Astros have placed left-hander Framber Valdez on the 15-day IL retroactive to April 6 after an examination in Houston revealed inflammation in his left elbow.

Valdez, who was scheduled to start on Monday in Arlington, was sent back to Houston after reporting soreness in the elbow area.

“He’s going to need some time to recover,” manager Joe Espada said prior to the Astros’ game Tuesday against the Royals. “Just see how quickly that [inflammation] comes down. Hopefully, he just misses like two starts and we can get him back on the mound.”

Valdez had allowed three earned runs, 11 hits and six walks while striking out 10 batters over 12 1/3 innings in two starts this season. His 697 2/3 innings pitched since the start of the 2020 season, including the playoffs, are the fourth-most in the Major Leagues, behind Aaron Nola (709 1/3), Zack Wheeler (704 2/3) and Gerrit Cole (702 2/3).

Espada said he spoke with Valdez on Monday night. After a 4-3 loss to Kansas City on Tuesday, the Houston manager confirmed that top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti will be summoned to start the middle game of the series on Wednesday.

The Valdez development triggered some roster movement as the Astros recalled left-hander Parker Mushinski and selected right-hander Wander Suero from Triple-A Sugar Land. Blair Henley has been optioned to Sugar Land -- after making his Major League debut in Valdez's place Monday night -- and right-hander Oliver Ortega was transferred to the 60-day IL.