--With the scheduled series opener against the Cubs rained out on Friday at Wrigley Field, manager Cecil Cooper altered his starting rotation so RHP Roy Oswalt (1-2, 4.50 ERA) can start Saturday in hopes of collecting his second victory of the season. Brian Moehler, who was scheduled to start Friday, will be pushed back to start Sunday. RHP Randy Wells, who was scheduled to start Friday against Moehler, will face Oswalt. The postponed game will be played July 30, extending a three-game series the teams are scheduled to play from July 27-29.
LHP Sean Marshall (1-2, 4.06 ERA) will be bumped from his turn Saturday, leaving RHP Rich Harden to start on schedule Sunday against Moehler. --RHP Felipe Paulino, who was scheduled to start Sunday for the Astros, will be available in the bullpen.
Asked about Paulino, Cecil Cooper said, "He'll be in the 'pen Sunday, Sunday, just Sunday. OK?"
--Although CF Michael Bourn is hitting .389 (21-for-54) this month and leadoff hitter Kaz Matsui is hitting .248 overall this season, manager Cecil Cooper won't consider moving Bourn into the leadoff spot from the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
"I'm not going to do it," Cooper said. "The only way I'd do it is if Matsui's not playing. I think it helps (Bourn). It keeps the pressure off and a lot of stuff. I'm just going to leave it there. Why tinker with it?"
--SS Miguel Tejada is hitting .440 (11-for-25) in his last seven games with two home runs. He has played in 35 games by the Astros this year, the most by any shortstop in baseball.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Geoff Geary (right biceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list May 14.
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, and he moved his rehab to Class AA Corpus Christi on May 3. He could return to the Astros in late May.
RHP Jose Valverde (strained right calf) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 27. He had fluid drained from the calf April 30 and May 1, and he might be out until early June.
RHP Doug Brocail (torn left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list May 4. He is out at least a month, and if he ultimately requires surgery, he would miss the rest of the season.
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 Brian Moehler
RHP Felipe Paulino
BULLPEN:
RHP LaTroy Hawkins (closer)
LHP Wesley Wright
LHP Tim Byrdak
RHP Chris Sampson
RHP Jeff Fulchino
RHP Alberto Arias
RHP Russ Ortiz
CATCHERS:
Ivan Rodriguez
Humberto Quintero
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
