Atlanta acquired Odorizzi on Monday in exchange for reliever Will Smith, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reports.
Odorizzi was at risk of losing his spot in Houston's six-man rotation with Lance McCullers (forearm) on track to return from the injured list in the next couple of weeks, so the Astros elected to exchange him for an experienced bullpen arm in Smith. With Atlanta, Odorizzi may not have an immediate path to a starting role if the club elects to keep its five-man rotation intact, but Ian Anderson owned a 5.31 ERA on the season before he tossed six shutout innings in his most recent outing. Odorizzi, who has submitted a 3.75 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 46:17 K:BB across 60 innings with Houston this season, will presumably be first in line to enter the rotation if Atlanta does expand to six men or opts to move Anderson to the bullpen or Triple-A Gwinnett.