The Astros bullpen has been a mess, especially while RHP Doug Brocail was on the disabled list and closer Jose Valverde was out for three games with a strained right calf muscle -- and then Valverde had a setback. Brocail returned from the DL on April 26, but RHP Geoff Geary may be on the way out if he doesn't straightened things out. Geary suffered three losses on the Astros' 10-game homestand. As if that weren't bad enough, RHP Chris Sampson, the reliable multiple-inning reliever, was pitching with a partial tear of the labrum in his hip.
PLAYER NEWS: --SS Miguel Tejada batted third in place of Lance Berkman. J.R. Towles made his first start of the season behind the plate for Ivan Rodriguez on Wednesday night. Darin Erstad started at first.
--By being out of the starting lineup Wednesday, combined with Thursday's scheduled day off, Ivan Rodriguez will have most of two days off. He will be expected to catch the entire three-game series against the Braves without sitting out Saturday's afternoon game after a night game. Rodriguez did come off the bench to catch one inning Wednesday.
"Rodriguez, it's kind of a scheduled day off for him," manager Cecil Cooper said. "J.R. Towles caught (Felipe) Paulino at Round Rock, and I thought it would be a good time to get him in there as well."
--RHP Brian Moehler (strained right knee) was hit hard Wednesday in a rehab start for Class AA Corpus Christi. Moehler gave up eight runs on 11 hits in five innings. He had pitched respectably in a rehab appearance for Class AAA Round Rock last Friday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Jose Valverde (strained right calf) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27.
C Humberto Quintero (strained right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 25. He resumed throwing April 28.
RHP Brian Moehler (strained right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 14. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Round Rock on April 24, and he pitched for Class AA Corpus Christi on April 29.
RHP Brandon Backe (strained left side muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list March 27. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Round Rock on April 27.
INF Aaron Boone (open-heart surgery on March 26) went on the 15-day disabled list March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 10. He was uncertain whether he'd resume his career.
ROTATION:
RHP Roy Oswalt
LHP Wandy Rodriguez
LHP Mike Hampton
RHP Russ Ortiz
RHP Felipe Paulino
BULLPEN:
RHP LaTroy Hawkins (closer)
RHP Doug Brocail
LHP Wesley Wright
RHP Geoff Geary
LHP Tim Byrdak
RHP Chris Sampson
RHP Jeff Fulchino
CATCHERS:
Ivan Rodriguez
J.R. Towles
INFIELDERS:
1B Lance Berkman
2B Kaz Matsui
SS Miguel Tejada
3B Geoff Blum
INF Jeff Keppinger
INF Jason Smith
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Carlos Lee
CF Michael Bourn
RF Hunter Pence
OF/1B Darin Erstad
OF Jason Michaels
