--RHP Brandon Backe is scheduled to make two more rehab starts, which would give him six before the club has to activate him if he's healthy. At this point, he's scheduled to start Monday and Saturday.
The club originally planned to have him make five rehab starts, but they recently opted for a sixth. "He's going to have another one, yeah," Cecil Cooper said of Backe. "I would think he needs it. He hasn't gotten to 100 pitches yet."
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
