The Astros called up Thatcher from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday.

Thatcher appeared in 36 games for the Astros earlier this season and will join the club for the September stretch run. He will provide the club another left-hander to deploy out of the bullpen.

Thatcher has re-signed with the Astros and will report to Triple-A Fresno, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Thatcher elected free agency last week after he was designated for assignment by the Astros earlier in July, but the club has brought back the veteran left-hander and assigned him to Triple-A. In 36 appearances with the Astros this season, Thatcher posted a 3.79 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks. He is scheduled to report to Fresno this weekend.

Thatcher cleared waivers Tuesday and has elected free agency.

Thatcher was designated for assignment a week ago and is now able to sign with any club as a free agent. He appeared in 36 games with the Astros this season, totaling 22 strikeouts and 11 walks with a 3.79 ERA as a middle-reliever and setup man.

Thatcher was designated for assignment Tuesday, CSN Houston's Howard Chen reports.

The Astros need a roster spot for Vincent Velasquez, who will start Tuesday's game against the Red Sox. Thatcher has 22 strikeouts in 19 innings out of the bullpen this season, but his 11 walks have led to a 1.68 WHIP and 3.79 ERA.

Thatcher took the loss in relief Monday after allowing a run on one hit and two walks in just a third of an inning against the A's.

Thatcher (0-1) entered the game with two outs in the top of the fourth inning and struck out Josh Reddick, however, he failed to retire a batter when he came back out for the fifth, as he allowed an infield single and two walks to load the bases before exiting the game in favor of Will Harris. The 33-year-old southpaw was charged with the loss when one of Harris' inherited runners scored on an RBI single. With a 3.38 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, Thatcher has been the most unreliable member of Houston's bullpen to date. If his performance does not improve, the Astros may turn to Kevin Chapman or Darin Downs in the minors to take over the lefty specialist role out of the bullpen.

Thatcher pitched a scoreless frame and struck out two during the Astros' 7-1 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday.

Through 10 relief appearances for the Astros this season, Thatcher has a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB over 6.1 innings. Despite solid numbers thus far, he hasn't pitched many high-leverage situations this season, as the Astros have leaned on fellow southpaw Tony Sipp for those occurrences.

Thatcher has been added to Houston's Opening Day Roster, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.

Thatcher will provide another left handed relief presence in Houston's bullpen. He had been competing with Darin Downs and Kevin Chapman for a spot in the bullpen this spring.

Thatcher will compete with Darin Downs and Kevin Chapman this spring as the Astros' second left-hander out of the bullpen behind Tony Sipp.

Thatcher, who signed a minor league deal with the Astros this winter, is the favorite of the three candidates to break camp with the team. Chapman is already on Houston's 40-man roster with minor league options remaining and Downs (not on the 40-man) is less likely to be snatched up by another team if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster. Spring performance will ultimately determine who wins this competition, but Thatcher has an apparent leg up and is further boosted by a strong track record (career 3.40 ERA) as an eight-year veteran in the league.

Thatcher has signed a minor league deal with the Astros, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

Thatcher has more than a million dollars laid out in incentives and an opt-out five days before Opening Day, Cotillo also reports. The Astros have been making an effort to reinforce their bullpen now that they're trying to contend, so Thatcher could have a shot.

Thatcher was not included on the Angels' ALDS roster, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

A trade acquisition from the Diamondbacks in early July, Thatcher went on to post an 8.53 ERA and 2.21 WHIP in 16 appearances (6.1 innings) with the Angels. He had a 2.63 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 37 appearances (24 innings) prior to being dealt. Vinnie Pestano was chosen to fill the final bullpen spot.

Thatcher was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Thatcher will add another arm to the Angels bullpen for the remainder of the season, and he could extend that into the postseason with a good showing in September.

Thatcher (ankle) will meet with the Angels on Tuesday to be evaluated. The outcome will result in him either being activate or throwing a simulated game, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Thatcher will join the Angels' bullpen if he's activated, or will need to throw a simulated game in preparation for activation at a later point. The veteran pitcher will also provide some added experience to the bullpen, and could be a candidate to stay on the team for the postseason.

Thatcher (ankle) allowed two runs on two hits in an inning pitched for Double-A Arkansas on Sunday.

Thatcher pitched in a live game for the first time since Aug. 2. According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, manager Mike Scioscia said that the length of Thatcher's rehab stint will be determined by how he looks on the mound, and how he feels after each outing.

Thatcher (left ankle sprain) felt good during drills Friday and is expected to pitch in a minor league playoff game Sunday, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports.

Assuming everything goes as planned for Thatcher, he could be pitching out of the Angels' bullpen in a setup role again relatively soon.

Thatcher (ankle) faced hitters in the batting cage Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Thatcher was pleased with how the session went and will attempt to take part in some fielding drills Friday. The Angels believe the lefty should be available out of the bullpen in the coming days, but it's too early to say for certain when he might be activated.

Thatcher (ankle) has started running and hopes to start throwing off a mound Saturday, but he is still at least two weeks away from returning to the Angels' bullpen, the Los Angeles Times' Mike DiGiovanna reports.

He is dealing with a ligament sprain, and while a return in mid-September is possible, he won't offer much fantasy value as a middle reliever in the Angels' bullpen.

Thatcher (ankle) is doing some light throwing off a mound in Arizona, but is "not close" to a return, according to manager Mike Scioscia, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports.

The ligament sprain is expected to keep him out until at least early-September, but as a middle reliever, he offers little fantasy value, especially after the Angels bolstered the bullpen prior to the trade deadline.

An MRI Monday confirmed a ligament sprain on Thatcher's ankle and he is expected to need 3-to-4 weeks to rehab the injury, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports.

In 27 innings with the Diamondbacks and Angels this season, Thatcher has a 3.00 ERA and 26 strikeouts, but he doesn't figure to offer much fantasy value upon his return pitching in the middle of the Angels' bullpen.

Thatcher will go on the DL due to a sprained left ankle after leaving Saturday's game against the Rays, although no official move has been made yet, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Thatcher left the game in the fourth inning while attempting to field a bunt. Following the game, Thatcher said he hopes to return by the end of August. Thatcher has pitched just 2.2 innings for the Angels since being traded from the Diamondbacks on July 5, allowing two earned runs on five hits. An official move to the DL will presumably be made Sunday.

Thatcher left Friday's game with a sprained left ankle, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

While working the fourth inning Saturday -- starter C.J. Wilson lasted just 1.1 innings -- Thatcher attempted to field a bunt off the bat of Tampa outfielder Brandon Guyer and sprained the ankle. Until the team elaborates on the severity of the issue, consider Thatcher day-to-day, but a DL stint certainly can't be ruled out.