Description: Astros starter Bud Norris (back) doesn't expect to miss a start, according to MLB.com.
Insight: Norris left Tuesday's start after six innings after his back spasms acted up. He also left his last start with back spasms and had his next start pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris aggravated his back injury Tuesday against the Royals and had to leave his start after six scoreless innings, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Insight: Norris left his previous start due to back spasms and had his next start pushed back from Sunday to Tuesday. The team is calling it "back tightness."
Description: Houston Astros 22-year-old minor league prospect Jarred Cosart is pitching well at Triple-A Oklahoma City, with a 4-1 record, 2.49 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 43 1/3 IP.
Insight: Considering the shape of the Astros' pitching staff and their major league worst 5.91 runs-per-game allowed, we know there is a spot for him in the rotation. It's just a matter of when.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve went 3-for-5 in his return from the bereavement list Saturday against Pittsburgh.
Insight: While strikeout-prone sluggers Chris Carter and Carlos Pena offer some value in NL-only leagues, Altuve is the only Astros player most fantasy owners should own. He's batting .342 with two homers, 19 RBI, 17 runs and four steals.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve will return to the lineup Saturday against the Pirates, according.
Insight: Altuve (.333, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 17 runs) was placed on the bereavement list Tuesday morning due to the death of his grandmother. He also suffered a dislocated jaw Monday night, so the time off allowed him to heal. Get him back in your fantasy lineups.
Description: Astros catcher Carlos Corporan went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBI Wednesday afternoon against Detroit.
Insight: Corporan (.312, 3 HR) has outperformed Jason Castro (.241, 3 HR), but he has limited fantasy value even to NL-only owners while he's Houston's backup.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve is expected to return to the lineup Saturday against the Pirates, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
Insight: Altuve (.333, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 17 runs) was placed on the bereavement list Tuesday morning due to the death of his grandmother. He also suffered a dislocated jaw Monday night, so the time off will allow him to heal.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve, who suffered a dislocated jaw Monday against Detroit, will miss time for another reason as the team has placed him on bereavement leave.
Insight: Altuve (.333, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 17 runs) is one of the few Astros who is worthy of a spot in fantasy lineups. Bereavement leave allows a player from 3-7 days away from the team.
Description: Houston starter Philip Humber has been designated for assignment.
Insight: Even the Astros have to draw the line somewhere. Humber fell to 0-8 after Saturday's loss to Texas, watching his ERA skyrocket from 8.49 to 9.59 in the process. The perfect game Humber threw for the White Sox last April now seems like a distant memory.
Description: Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez knocked two balls out of the park Saturday in a loss against Texas.
Insight: Dominguez (.264, 2 HR, 15 RBI) now has six RBI in his last three games. He's been much more successful at Minute Maid Park than anywhere else (.286 at Minute Maid versus .242 in other parks).
Description: Astros outfielder Chris Carter is hitless in 10 previous at bats against Angels lefty Jason Vargas.
Insight: Carter leads Houston with eight homers and 18 RBI this season. Unfortunately, his batting average is hovering right around the Mendoza line (.212 in 33 games). Thursday would be a good day to leave Carter on the bench.
Description: Houston center fielder Justin Maxwell (hand) could begin light work with a bat in 7-10 days, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
Insight: Maxwell suffered a broken left hand in the last week of April, but he is progressing well.
Description: Astros outfielder Rick Ankiel has been designated for assignment.
Insight: Ankiel has been pitiful at the plate this season. An astounding 56 percent of his at bats have resulted in strikeouts. Ankiel's career isn't over yet but it's definitely not a good sign when the Astros are cutting you loose.
Description: Astros lefthander Erik Bedard is heading back to the bullpen. SOURCE: Brian T. Smith, Houston Chronicle
Insight: Bedard began the season as a long relief man but Houston's lack of depth forced him to become a starter. He's 0-2 with a 9.98 ERA in five starts this season. Obviously, he has no fantasy value in either role.
Description: Houston starter Bud Norris allowed nine hits and five runs (three earned) in six innings Sunday against Boston.
Insight: Norris has a 22/13 K/BB in 30 innings this year. He has allowed three runs or fewer in five of his six starts but he gave up six runs in 2/3 of an inning in his worst start and has a 4.20 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.
Description: Houston center fielder Justin Maxwell will need 4-to-6 weeks to recover from his broken hand. SOURCE: Brian McTaggart, MLB.com
Insight: That's about the usual recovery period for an injury like this. The Astros will turn to Triple-A callup Robbie Grossman in center field until Maxwell is ready to return.
Description: Houston outfielder Rick Ankiel is a career .125 hitter (2-for-16) against Boston right-hander Ryan Dempster.
Insight: Ankiel isn't hitting for high average against anyone this season (.205 with 28 Ks in 44 at-bats), but he does have five homers and 11 RBI and an .813 OPS.
Description: Houston shortstop Ronny Cedeno used a 3-for-4 afternoon Wednesday against the Mariners to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Insight: Cedeno has collected six RBI in his last two games. Marwin Gonzalez's strong play this season (.289, 3 HR, 7 RBI in 16 games) has prevented Cedeno from seeing regular playing time.
Description: Astros third baseman Brandon Laird erupted for three hits Wednesday in a win over the Mariners.
Insight: All three were for extra bases (two doubles and a home run). This was just Laird's fifth game of the season so it's still too early to tell if he'll be a factor in fantasy.
Description: If the Astros are looking for a little scoring punch, then minor leaguer George Springer could be the answer. He's batting .299 with six home runs and 16 RBI in his first 67 at-bats for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.
Insight: Springer batted .302 with 24 homers between the California and Texas Leagues last season and might be worth a look with Justin Maxwell sidelined by injury.
Description: Astros center fielder Justin Maxwell has been placed on the disabled list with a broken left hand.
Insight: Maxwell was struggling with the strikeout - 22 in 77 at-bats. Houston will bring up Robbie Grossman, but likely will use Rick Ankiel in center.
Description: Astros starter Philip Humber was bombed for eight hits and eight earned runs in just 1/3 of an inning Saturday night against the Indians.
Insight: Houston has had a starter fail to get out of the first inning three times in the past five games. Humber's first three outings were strong, but his latest one offsets those. He's now 0-4 with a 6.63 ERA.
Description: Neither of Houston's starters the last two days have made it out of the first inning. Bud Norris only recorded two outs Wednesday while allowing five hits, three walks and six runs to the Athletics.
Insight: Norris had a 1.96 ERA and 1.09 WHIP after three starts, so he's worth holding onto for another turn or two to see if he can get regain his composure. Norris lasted one out longer than Erik Bedard, who gave up six runs in 1/3 of an inning Tuesday night.
Description: White Sox infielder Tyler Greene is 5-for-11 against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ with a pair of home runs and a 1.545 OPS.
Insight: Greene is one of Chicago's second base options with Gordon Beckham sidelined. He went 2-for-3 on Monday, but sat as Jeff Keppinger started on Tuesday. Greene should get the nod for Wednesday's game with this favorable matchup.
Description: Astros starter Philip Humber is 0-3, but he has a 2.89 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.
Insight: Humber has allowed six earned in 18 2/3 innings, but Houston has scored just one run combined in his three starts. The right-hander had a 6.44 ERA and 1.54 WHIP last season, but he did have a 3.75 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 2011 and threw a perfect game last April for the White Sox.
Description: While Erik Bedard will serve as Houston's fifth starter this season, he ended up picking up a save in the season opener against Texas.
Insight: Bedard fired 3 1/3 scoreless one-hit innings in relief of Bud Norris in a game Houston won 8-2. With two days off this week, the Astros don't need Bedard to start until next weekend.
Description: Houston outfielder Rick Ankiel hit a three-run homer on Opening Day Sunday versus Texas.
Insight: He didn't start with lefty Matt Harrison on the hill (.228 career against LHP) but pinch hit and took Derek Lowe deep in the sixth inning. He has some power potential for AL-only owners.
Description: Astros center fielder Justin Maxwell had a pair of triples, a walk and two RBIs Sunday in the season opener against the Rangers.
Insight: Maxwell has some pop (18 HRs in 2012) and speed (nine steals), but he struck out 114 times and hit .229 last season. Still, if anyone on this team has job security, it's him.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris beat the Rangers on Opening Day by going 5 2/3 innings and allowing two earned on five hits and three walks. He struck out five.
Insight: Norris has struck out just under 9.0 batters per nine innings the last three seasons but posted an ERA in the high fours in two of them. Despite the positive result Sunday, his outlook as a No. 1 starter in the AL West is bleak.
Description: Rick Ankiel is expected to be the starting right fielder for the Houston Astros this season. He is hitting .432 with four homers in 45 at-bats this spring.
Insight: Ankiel has recorded a batting average of .235 over the past three seasons as a part-time outfielder for Kansas City, Atlanta and Washington. The last time he had 400 at-bats in a season was 2008, when Ankiel had a .264 batting average, 25 homers and an .843 OPS in 413 at-bats.
Description: Astros outfielder Fernando Martinez could have to start the season on the disabled list with a left oblique injury. SOURCE: MLB.com
Insight: Martinez missed a week earlier this spring with lower back tightness. He was expected to serve as the fourth outfielder on Opening Day as a backup to Chris Carter, Jason Maxwell and Rick Ankiel.
Description: Houston left-hander Erik Bedard has been named the team's fifth starter, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
Insight: Bedard went 4-5 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.16 WHIP at PNC Park last season as a member of the Pirates, but 3-9 with a 6.98 ERA and 1.82 WHIP on the road. Moving away from PNC and to the American League won't help.
Description: Astros righty Brad Peacock, who was acquired from Oakland in the Jed Lowrie trade, will serve as Houston's fourth starter. SOURCE: Brian T. Smith, Houston Chronicle
Insight: The 25-year-old Peacock had been traded in each of the last two offseasons, as he went from Washington to Oakland in the Gio Gonzalez deal. He had a 6.01 ERA at Triple-A last season and shouldn't be owned anywhere but the deepest NL-only leagues.
Description: Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has confirmed that newly signed shortstop Ronny Cedeno will be the team's starter, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
Insight: Tyler Greene, who is out of options, will not make the Opening Day roster. Cedeno is a career .247 hitter who doesn't hit for power or run much and has a negative career UZR. In other words, he's a perfect Astro.
Description: The Astros have optioned outfielder J.D. Martinez to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Insight: Martinez had 395 at-bats for the Astros last season and hit .241 with a .685 OPS. It looks like Houston will go with Chris Carter (16 HRs in 2012) in left field, Justin Maxwell in center and Fernando Martinez in right.
Description: The Astros will go with Bud Norris as the Opening Day starter.
Insight: Norris has struck out just under 9.0 batters per nine innings the last three seasons but posted an ERA in the high fours in two of them. Moving to the AL West and facing the opponent's best starter won't help.
Description: Astros manager Bo Porter said second baseman Jose Altuve will start the season as his No. 2 hitter.
Insight: Altuve was the best offensive player on the Houston roster (.290, 80 runs, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 33 SB) and we hate to see anything that would result in fewer at-bats. The All-Star led off in 85 games last season, versus 48 in the second hole and 14 elsewhere.
Description: Houston right-hander Jose Veras is the front-runner to be the team's full-time closer, according to the Astros' official website. "If you're going to take a chance on someone to be a first-time closer, that's the type of guy you want," manager Bo Porter said. "We do have other pitchers that will get an opportunity to pitch late in the game, whether it's [Rhiner] Cruz, who had a really good winter league, or [Hector] Ambriz. There are others who will get a look, but Veras has the experience right now and is the front-runner."
Insight: Veras has appeared in 327 games at the big league level but has just five saves with a 4.01 ERA. Houston still had 31 saves as a team last season despite losing 107 games, so Veras will certainly have value if he wins the job. But he might have a hard time keeping it if he walks 4.9 batters per nine innings like he has in his first 314 1/3 innings.
Description: Lefthander Erik Bedard has agreed to a minor league contract with Houston.
Insight: 2012 didn't go quite as planned for Bedard (7-14, 5.01 ERA in 24 starts before Pittsburgh released him in late August) but he was actually rather effective the season before, producing a 3.62 ERA in 24 starts for the Mariners and Red Sox in 2011. Bedard's not going to win a whole lot of games pitching for the Astros but he could post a respectable ERA if he can stay healthy.
Description: Houston has taken a shot on Phil Humber, claiming the right-hander off waivers from the White Sox.
Insight: The move would have been a positive one in the past if only because it would have moved Humber to the lighter hitting National League. However, with Houston slated to move to the AL West in 2013, Humber will find himself stuck in the league in which he posted a 6.44 ERA in 102 innings in 2012.
Description: According to the Astros' official website, Houston GM Jeff Luhnow said Tuesday he would be comfortable with Wilton Lopez handling the closing duties next season.
Insight: Lopez has been very reliable for Houston over the past three seasons, tossing 203 1/3 innings and recording a cumulative 2.66 ERA. He took over at closer for Brett Myers after Myers was traded and has saved nine games in 12 chances overall.
Description: Houston starter Jordan Lyles finished up the 2012 season with his best outing of the year. He tossed his first career complete game shutout, limiting the Brewers to only four hits and a walk.
Insight: Lyles even got a little run support as the Astros provided him with seven runs to work with. Despite the strong outing, Lyles is still only 5-12 for the year with a 5.09 ERA and probably won't warrant much consideration in next year's fantasy draft.
Description: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will get the afternoon off Sunday against the Brewers.
Insight: It's a bit of a surprise to see Altuve sidelined considering that he's hit .413 versus Milwaukee in 2012. Tyler Greene (.225, 11 HR, 28 RBI) is getting the start at second base in his absence.
Description: Astros righthander Bud Norris dominated the Cardinals on Wednesday night, allowing just two hits in 7 1/3 shutout innings.
Insight: Norris struck out seven and walked none. The victory was his sixth of the season. Norris (4.82 ERA) will make his final start of the year next Wednesday against the Cubs.
Description: Houston outfielder Justin Maxwell is 5-for-8 (.625) against Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia with four extra base hits and a 2.102 OPS.
Insight: It's a small sample size, but the numbers are too good to pass up. Maxwell has shown plenty of power with 17 homers in just 291 at-bats, but needs to work on his low batting average (.230).
Description: Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie is taking the afternoon off Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Insight: Lowrie's troublesome knee has rendered him mostly a part-time player at this point. Assuming Lowrie (.254, 15 HR, 41 RBI) uses the offseason to get his knee back to 100 percent, he should be a strong shortstop play in fantasy next season.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie is hitting .269 with a .768 OPS in nine games since returning from the disabled list but Sunday brings a matchup with A.J. Burnett. The Pirates starter has held Lowrie in check in the past.
Insight: Lowrie is a .190 hitter (4-for-21) with one RBI and four strikeouts against Burnett so get him out of your lineup Sunday.
Description: Houston starter Bud Norris (blister, flu) started for the first time since Sept. 8 Thursday against St. Louis but it didn't go well. Norris allowed five runs on six hits while walking five in 5 1/3 innings.
Insight: Norris has been awful this season, posting an ERA of 4.97 or higher in four of the previous five months. Thursday's performance brings his September ERA up to 5.40.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie won't start Thursday against the Cardinals.
Insight: Lowrie's knee still isn't 100 percent and you can expect him to see only part-time action for the rest of the season. Feel free to drop Lowrie (.252, 14 HR, 38 RBI) if you have another option lined up at shortstop.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday.
Insight: Lowrie got off to a great start before injuries to his knee and ankle caused his 2012 season to unravel. He returns to a .253 average with 14 homers in 80 games played.
Description: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve won't be available for Tuesday's game against Chicago. Altuve hasn't played since Friday because of a strained abdomen.
Insight: Altuve (.290, 5 HR, 33 RBI) is hoping to be back by the end of the week. Jimmy Paredes (.191, 0 HR, 3 RBI) will fill in at second base tonight versus the Cubs.
Description: The Astros released righthander Francisco Cordero on Monday.
Insight: Cordero hasn't appeared in a major league game since August 1st while dealing with injuries to his toe and shoulder. He's had a miserable season, blowing six out of his eight save opportunities. There's no reason to pay attention to Cordero in fantasy next year.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve is expected to miss Monday's game against Chicago after suffering an abdominal strain in Friday's game.
Insight: Altuve (.290, 73 runs, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 29 SB) has not produced an RBI in his last 13 appearances. Still, he's been one of the few bright spots for the Astros this season.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve will miss Saturday's contest in Cincinnati after suffering an abdominal strain in Friday's game.
Insight: Altuve (.290, 5 HR, 33 RBI) has not produced an RBI in his last 13 appearances. Jimmy Paredes (.188, 0 HR, 3 RBI) is getting the start in his place.
Description: Astros first baseman Brett Wallace corked his seventh home run of the season Monday in a win over the Pirates.
Insight: Wallace had been one for his last 15 heading into today's action. Despite his impressive performance on Monday, we wouldn't recommend owning Wallace or anybody else on this miserable Houston squad in fantasy, unless, of course, your name happens to be Jose Altuve.
Description: Houston first baseman Brett Wallace has to be happy to see Jake Westbrook on the schedule Thursday. Wallace is 6-for-11 (.545) with four RBIs against the Cardinals right-hander.
Insight: Wallace is only a deep NL-only league option at this point but those who own him should start him Thursday.
Description: Houston righthander Bud Norris left Wednesday's start after taking a comebacker off his left foot.
Insight: It's just a bruise so we're guessing Norris (5-10, 5.23 ERA) will be out there for his next start Wednesday in St. Louis. Not that you'd want to start Norris anyway after how poorly he pitched in this outing (eight hits, six earned runs in just three and a third innings).
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve is getting the day off Sunday against Milwaukee.
Insight: Altuve (.299, 5 HR, 30 RBI) enjoyed his ninth three-hit performance of the year in Saturday night's game. He could be available for pinch-hitting duty later on in the game today.
Description: Infielder Tyler Greene was traded to the Astros Thursday for cash or a player to be named later.
Insight: Greene (.218, 4 HR, 19 RBI) played second base in St. Louis but he'll likely be the starting shortstop for the Astros until Jed Lowrie returns from an ankle injury.
Description: Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie (knee, ankle) does not have a timetable for his return, according to the team's official website.
Insight: Lowrie was putting up elite power numbers for a fantasy shortstop before being sidelined with a sprained right ankle in mid-July. Lowrie has yet to resume baseball activities and he may not return in time to contribute to your fantasy team this season.
Description: Astros starter Lucas Harrell improved to 9-7 and lowered his ERA below 4.00 for the first time since late May with a quality start Saturday against Atlanta.
Insight: Harrell (9-7, 3.98) has allowed two earned runs or less in seven of his last eight starts to lower his ERA from 5.07 to 3.98 in that span. The right-hander doesn't rack up strikeouts and walks too many batters but he's still a solid option in NL-only formats.
Description: Houston reliever Francisco Cordero has been placed on the DL with an inflamed toe.
Insight: Cordero (3-8, 7.55 ERA) inherited the closer's role after the Astros traded Brett Myers to the White Sox but was unable to convert any of his three save chances. He'll likely be a setup man upon his return from the disabled list.
Description: Astros manager Brad Mills said Tuesday that Wilton Lopez is his new primary closer, according to Brain McTaggart of MLB.com. Francisco Cordero blew each of his three save chances after coming over from Toronto.
Insight: Lopez is someone to target in all leagues even if the Astros won't hand him many save opportunities.
Description: After being anointed closer by Astros manager Brad Mills Tuesday, Wilton Lopez threw during batting practice and experienced tightness in his elbow, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Insight: Lopez will be unavailable Tuesday. The right-hander spent time on the DL earlier this season due to a strained UCL.
Description: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has managed only one hit in 10 go-rounds against Pirates righthander James McDonald.
Insight: Altuve (.296, 5 HRs, 27 RBIs) collected a pair of hits in Saturday's game but it's doubtful he'll have that kind of success today against McDonald (10-4, 3.15 ERA).
Description: After going 0-2 on Wednesday, Houston outfielder Jordan Schafer is out of the lineup for Thursday night's series finale against Pittsburgh.
Insight: Schafer's fantasy stock has taken a nosedive in recent weeks. He's hitless in his last 14 trips to the dish (0-for-11 with three walks) and is now hitting .170 for the month with no homers and just two RBIs.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris' no decision Wednesday was his best result since late May. Norris held Cincinnati to one run on five hits in seven innings after losing seven straight starts.
Insight: Norris (5-8, 5.05) had a sub-four ERA last season and started off 5-1 with a 3.14 this year, but he's gone 0-7 with a 7.43 ERA in nine starts since then. He's only an NL-only option at this point, but he does have a 9.4 K/9 so keep him on your radar if he can string a couple of solid starts together.
Description: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 10-for-19 with four walks and no strikeouts in his last five games following a slump that knocked his batting average down to .287.
Insight: Altuve started the second half in a 3-for-28 slump, but he's gotten things going again in his last five games. Most of the second baseman's value is tied to his batting average, so he needs to keep that above .300 in order to remain a viable option.
Description: Astros starter Lucas Harrell has a 2.03 ERA over his last six starts, including a dominant effort Tuesday against the Reds.
Insight: Harrell (7-7, 4.07) allowed one run in seven innings Tuesday but he had to take a no decision when Francisco Cordero blew a save. Harrell is worth a look in NL-only leagues.
Description: New Astros closer Francisco Cordero's first save chance with Houston went as poorly as his brief time as Toronto's closer earlier this season. Cordero allowed a go-ahead two-run homer to Drew Stubbs and followed by walking two before serving up an RBI single to Xavier Paul.
Insight: Cordero has recorded an ERA over six this season and it wouldn't surprise us if Wilton Lopez was given a shot at the ninth inning after a few more flameouts by the veteran.
Description: Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez is dealing with a sore shoulder and will be out of the lineup for the third straight game Tuesday against the Reds.
Insight: Martinez has 50 RBIs but his .241 average and .705 OPS make him a marginal fantasy fill-in at best.
Description: The Astros are playing on Monday night but left fielder J.D. Martinez won't be. It's just a regular day of rest for the 24-year-old.
Insight: Ben Francisco (.232, 0 HRs, 2 RBIs), who made his Houston debut this past weekend against the Diamondbacks, is getting the start in Martinez's place tonight against Cincinnati.
Description: As we predicted earlier, Francisco Cordero will take over Houston's closer role after Brett Myers was traded to the White Sox, according to Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle.
Insight: Cordero (3-5, 5.77 ERA) was traded to the Astros Friday as part of a 10-player trade. With Brandon Lyon and Myers out of the picture, Cordero is the only member of Houston's bullpen with closing experience so he was the obvious choice to assume the role. Keep Wilton Lopez in mind if Cordero falters.
Description: Now that Brett Myers has been traded to the White Sox, newly-acquired reliever Francisco Cordero may be in line to assume Houston's closer role.
Insight: Cordero (3-5, 5.77 ERA) was traded to the Astros Friday as part of a 10-player trade. With Brandon Lyon and Myers out of the picture, Cordero is the only member of Houston's bullpen with closing experience.
Description: Reliever Francisco Cordero was shipped to Houston Friday as part of a ten-player swap between the Astros and Blue Jays.
Insight: Cordero (3-5, 5.77 ERA) struggled during his half a season with Toronto but perhaps he'll fare better in Houston now that he has a clean slate again. He'll serve as the Astros setup man leading up to closer Brett Myers (0-4, 3.52, 19-for-21 in save chances) in the ninth inning.
Description: Houston first baseman Matt Downs smacked a pair of home runs Wednesday in the Astros' 8-4 loss to San Diego. Downs, who finished with three hits, drove in all four of Houston's runs.
Insight: Downs (.191, 7 HRs, 13 RBIs) is starting to see a bit more playing time at first base now that Carlos Lee has been traded but it's probably still a bit of a stretch to call him "fantasy-worthy" at this point.
Description: Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow believes shortstop Jed Lowrie will be out 4-6 weeks while he recovers from a spained right ankle. Lowrie is also struggling with a nerve problem in his right leg.
Insight: Marwin Gonzalez (.286, 1 HRs, 3 RBIs) is starting at shortstop Tuesday night against San Diego and if he continues to hit the way he has over the past two games (4-8), Gonzalez should get plenty of reps at that position while Lowrie (.253, 14 HRs, 36 RBIs) is sidelined.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie has nerve damage in his leg in addition to the sprained right ankle that landed him on the DL, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Insight: Astros manager Brad Mills said the nerve damage is a bigger issue than the ankle injury. It is unknown how long he'll be out with the nerve issue, but it could be awhile before we see Lowrie back on the field.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie has landed on the DL with a sprained right ankle.
Insight: Lowrie was DL'd with a sprained thumb earlier in the year so staying healthy has proven to be a challenge for the 28-year-old. When he's been on the field, Lowrie has been one of the steadiest producers in the Astros' lineup, bopping 14 homers to the tune of a .253 average.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie injured himself Saturday against the Giants and had to come out of the game in the third inning. He was seen on crutches after the game.
Insight: It's unclear what exactly is wrong with Lowrie. Originally it had been reported as an ankle sprain but other sources are saying Lowrie's injury could a knee issue. Either way, it seems doubtful that Lowrie (.253, 14 HRs, 36 RBIs) will be available to play on Sunday.
Description: The Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is a career .455 hitter (5-for-11) against Giants starter Madison Bumgarner.
Insight: Altuve has been one of this year's nicest surprises, batting .303 with 48 runs, 5 HR, 27 RBI and a .783 OPS. He's got a favorable matchup with Bumgarner and should be a must-start on Friday.
Description: Astros GM Jeff Luhnow told MLB.com that relievers Brett Myers and Brandon Lyon are on the trade market, meaning Wilton Lopez would likely assume Houston's closer role.
Insight: Lopez has a 2.51 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 32 1/3 innings this season, and he's also walked just four batters against 26 strikeouts. The right-hander has had a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the last three seasons, so while Houston may not provide him with many save chances, he's a worthwhile add in all formats.
Description: After going 0-2 on Wednesday, Houston outfielder Jordan Schafer is out of the lineup for Thursday night's series finale against Pittsburgh.
Insight: Schafer (.236, 3 HRs, 20 RBIs) is known for stealing bases but since the beginning of June, he's recorded only five thefts. The Astros center fielder had 14 in the season's first two months.
Description: Houston third baseman Chris Johnson is expected to miss Wednesday's game against Pittsburgh with a strained left lat muscle.
Insight: Johnson (.280, 6 HR, 34 RBI) has been slumping this week going just 2-for-11 in his last three games. There are enough fantasy-worthy third baseman that Johnson is primarily depth on most fantasy rosters.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie is a career .111 batter (2-for-18) versus Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett.
Insight: Lowrie's batting average isn't anything to write home about, but his 14 HR and .809 OPS are elite for fantasy shortstops. He's a must start on most day, but has an unfavorable matchup on Tuesday.
Description: Houston third baseman Chris Johnson won't be on the field Sunday when the Astros take on the Cubs in the final game of a three game series.
Insight: Johnson (.280, 6 HRs, 34 RBIs) reached base in three of his four trips to the plate Saturday in a 3-2 loss to the Cubs.
Description: Houston center fielder Jordan Schafer is on the bench for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Insight: Schafer's terrible June (.176) dropped his average to just .237 for the year. Only use Schafer if you are desperate for stolen bases. He has 18 steals in 24 attempts this season.
Description: Houston first baseman Carlos Lee is unlikely to waive his no-trade clause, which would allow him to be traded to the Dodgers.
Insight: A deal is already in place but Lee's contract allows him to have the final say and it looks like he's going to veto the trade. The 36-year-old is hitting .285 with five homers and 29 RBIs in 62 games for the Astros in 2012.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris returned from the disabled list Friday against the Cubs. The right-hander served up three homers and allowed four earned runs in a loss.
Insight: Norris (5-5, 4.90) missed two weeks with a sprained knee. The right-hander has solid strikeout potential, but he shouldn't be used away from Minute Maid Park, where he is 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in six starts this season.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie is not in the Astros' starting lineup Friday against Chicago.
Insight: Lowrie's batting average isn't anything special (.262) but no other shortstops in the National League have been able to keep up with his elite home run production so far in 2012 (14 HRs in 68 games this season).
Description: Astros third baseman Chris Johnson could be in for a rough afternoon at Wrigley Field on Friday. He's 1-12 (.083) with a pair of strikeouts in his career against Chicago starter Paul Maholm.
Insight: Johnson (.280, 6 HRs, 34 RBIs) is having a decent season for Houston but he can't be trusted Friday against Maholm.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris has been activated from the 15-day DL and will start Friday afternoon at Wrigley Stadium against the Cubs. Norris has been out since spraining his left knee June 12 in a start against the Giants.
Insight: Norris (5-4, 4.81 ERA) is 3-2 with a 1.89 ERA in six career appearances against the Cubs.
Description: Astros closer Brett Myers had a disasterous outing Thursday against San Diego, but five of the six runs he allowed were unearned due to an error.
Insight: Myers entered with a 3-1 lead and allowed four hits, including a grand slam. The Astros closer had a similar appearance on June 18 when he allowed five runs on eight hits in 2/3 innings. Fantasy owners were lucky Myers was able to escape with just one earned run allowed Thursday. Myers may only have one month left as a closer, as Houston may choose to deal him to a contender looking for middle relief help at the trade deadline.
Description: The Astros are hoping to have second baseman Jose Altuve (hamstring) back over the weekend, Houston's official website reports.
Insight: Altuve is not in the lineup Thursday. He hasn't played since he injured his hamstring Sunday. Astros manager Brad Mills doesn't want Altuve back on the field until he can run at 100 percent, so Saturday is likely the earliest day the second baseman will be available.
Description: Astros starter Lucas Harrell handled San Diego Wednesday in his first career complete game.
Insight: Harrell shut out the Padres on six hits and four walks while fanning seven. The right-hander has allowed one run on eight hits and seven walks in 16 innings over his last two starts, both against light-hitting ballclubs. Despite his recent success, he's nothing more than a spot starter to use when he's throwing at home (5-1, 1.99 ERA in seven starts at Minute Maid Park this season).
Description: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is questionable for Tuesday's game against San Diego with a strained right hamstring.
Insight: It appears that Altuve and the Astros got lucky with the injury. Many times these hamstring injuries require a stay on the disabled list, but the second baseman said he felt better when he came to the stadium on Monday night. Altuve has been productive (.309, 45 runs scored, 12 SB) and leads an improving Houston offense (3.79 rpg in 2011 to 4.21 rpg in 2012).
Description: Houston starter Bud Norris is set to come off the disabled list and start Thursday against San Diego. Norris was placed on the DL a week ago after suffering a sprained left knee.
Insight: Norris (5-4, 4.81 ERA) last pitched for the Astros on June 12 against San Francisco. He allowed three runs on three hits over 3.1 innings in that outing.
Description: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is doubtful for Monday's game against San Diego with a strained right hamstring which he suffered in Sunday's game against Cleveland.
Insight: Altuve has been productive (.309, 45 runs scored, 12 SB) and leads an improving Houston offense (3.79 rpg in 2011 to 4.21 rpg in 2012). This type of injury frequently requires a trip to the disabled list so have a backup plan ready.
Description: Houston outfielder J.D. Martinez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer Sunday against the Indians.
Insight: Martinez (.230, 9 HR, 41 RBIs) has homered in two straight games and four times in June. However, he doesn't offer much upside unless you're desperate for RBI production.
Description: Houston third baseman Chris Johnson went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs Sunday against Cleveland.
Insight: Prior to Sunday, Johnson hadn't homered since May 21. He does have 10 hits in his last 20 at-bats, though that stretch likely won't last long.
Description: Astros second baseman Jose Altuve strained his right hamstring Sunday against Cleveland and was forced to leave the game.
Insight: Altuve has been productive both at the plate (.309 AVG in 71 games) and on the base paths this season (12 SBs). He was replaced at second base by Brian Bixler (.297, 1 HR, 5 RBIs).
Description: Astros starter Dallas Keuchel picked up his first career win in a complete game effort Saturday against Cleveland. Keuchel held the Indians to one run on six hits in nine innings in his second career start. He walked one and struck out three.
Insight: Keuchel tossed five innings of one-run ball against the Rangers in his first career start last week. He did walk four in that start, but he walked just 15 batters in 80 1/3 innings at Triple-A Oklahoma this season so he likely won't be issuing too many free passes. He also doesn't strike out many batters either, so his value will be limited to NL-only leagues for now.
Description: Astros righthander Bud Norris (sprained knee) is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start at Triple-A Oklahoma City Saturday.
Insight: Norris has been sidelined since June 13, but he should be able to return after the minimum time on the disabled list. Houston's right-hander went 4-0 with an ERA of 0.35 in his first four starts of May. In his next four starts, Norris went 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA before hitting the DL with a sprained left knee.
Description: Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez may have won three of his last five starts and two in a row, but he's not pitching particularly well in that span with a 5.72 ERA and a 1.659 WHIP.
Insight: Rodriguez has benefitted from the Astros' timely offense which has averaged seven runs a game in his last five starts. Houston averages 4.28 runs-per-game so his good fortune may not last.
Description: Houston center fielder Jordan Schafer is not in the lineup for Monday night's tilt with Kansas City.
Insight: Schafer is batting a mere .246 in 199 at bats this season but he is third in the National League in stolen bases with 16 steals in 21 attempts.
Description: Astros first baseman Carlos Lee had two hits and two RBIs in his return from the disabled list Sunday.
Insight: Lee raised his average to .301. The first baseman doesn't hit homers anymore, so he can be avoided outside of NL-only leagues if you're planning to use him at first base.
Description: Astros righthander Bud Norris has been placed on the 15-day DL with a sprained left knee.
Insight: The move is retroactive to June 13th. Norris was on a real hot streak in the middle of May. He went on a four-game winning streak and had an ERA of 0.34 in those four starts. Since that streak ended however, he's gone 0-3 with an awful 10.91 ERA.
Description: Astros baseman Carlos Lee has been activated from the disabled list and is expected to start Sunday in Houston's series finale against the Rangers. Lee has been out since June 1st with a strained left hamstring.
Insight: Lee is no longer the power threat he once was but he can still drive in runs and hits for a high average. Plus Lee is eligible at multiple positions (first base and the outfield).
Description: Astros shortstop Jed Lowrie launched his 13th homer of the year Saturday in an 8-3 loss to Texas.
Insight: Lowrie is on pace to hit 32 homers this season. His career high before this season was just nine homers. Lowrie (.276) is having a breakout season and needs to be owned in all formats.
Description: First baseman Carlos Lee is expected to return to the Astros starting lineup on Sunday. He's been out most of the month with a strained left hamstring.
Insight: Lee (.297, 4 HR, 23 RBI) will begin a short rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi Thursday night before joining Houston later this weekend.
Description: According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Astros first baseman Carlos Lee (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Corpus Christi.
Insight: Lee (.297, 4 HR, 23 RBI) is first eligible to be activated from the DL Sunday. Brett Wallace (.385, 2 HR) will likely lose his spot in the lineup once Lee returns.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris left Tuesday's start against San Francisco in the fourth inning with a left knee sprain.
Insight: Norris has been dealing with a strained hip flexor, and now he's got a knee sprain to recover from. In his last four starts, Norris is 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA and a 2.23 WHIP in 15 2/3 innings. If he does make his next scheduled start, it will be against Texas, so avoid him if he does manage to take the hill.
Description: According to Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle, Astros first baseman Carlos Lee (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in a few days if his running goes well today and tomorrow, Houston manager Brad Mills said.
Insight: Lee is first eligible to be activated from the DL Sunday. Brett Wallace has picked up at least one hit in the first seven games since taking over for Lee at first base. Wallace is batting .400 with two homers and four RBIs through Monday, but he'll likely lose his spot in the lineup once Lee returns.
Description: Houston starter J.A. Happ will start at San Francisco tomorrow, but don't even think about streaming him despite his 3.00 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 30 innings over his last five starts. Happ has been abysmal on the road this season.
Insight: Happ is 0-2 with a 5.24 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in four road starts this season compared to 4-4 with a 4.21 ERA in eight home starts.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve has faced Giants young lefty Madison Bumgarner seven times in his short career collecting four hits (.571) including a home run.
Insight: Altuve has been one of this year's biggest surprises. He started the season hot, cooled a bit in May and is back tearing the cover off the ball. Over the past two weeks he's batting .420. Add in the favorable matchup and he's a must start.
Description: Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie went 0-for-5 Sunday against the White Sox.
Insight: He went 2-for-4 with a homer in each of the three games prior to Sunday, so don't be too alarmed. On the year, Lowrie has been a major find at shortstop, batting .289 with 12 doubles, 12 homers and 28 RBIs for the Astros. Lowrie showed flashes of this during his time with Boston, but he never had a full-time gig like he does with Houston.
Description: Houston first baseman Brett Wallace went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the White Sox.
Insight: Wallace has picked up at least one hit in each of his seven games since he was promoted to the big leagues, including three doubles and two homers. The former first-round draft pick was a surprise last season when he hit .318 in the first 69 games, but he hit just .182 in July and was demoted until September, when he hit an even worse .105 in 14 games. Still, he's worth a flier in NL-only leagues based on his early success last year.
Description: Houston second baseman Jose Altuve went 2-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs and a stolen base Sunday against the White Sox.
Insight: Altuve started hitting when the season kicked off and he hasn't stopped since. The second baseman has 78 hits, a .326 average, four homers and 10 steals in 59 games.
Description: Houston third baseman Chris Johnson left Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox with stomach nausea. He'll be day-to-day.
Insight: Johnson has been solid this season, batting .286 with 24 runs, 5 HR, and 27 RBI and could be a useful fill-in for some of the many injured third baseman.
Description: Houston starter J.A. Happ will start against St. Louis tomorrow, but don't even think about streaming him despite his 2.13 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings over his last four starts.
Insight: The Cardinals have owned Happ in his career. Happ is 1-7 with a 6.70 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in nine career starts against them. Stay away from this matchup.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris is probable for Wednesday's scheduled start against St. Louis with a strained right hip flexor.
Insight: Norris may have a winning record (5-2), but over his last two starts he's given up 15 hits and 12 runs in 6 1/3 innings. He's given up three or more earned runs in six of 11 starts this season. Add in the questionable health and you should avoid his Wednesday start against Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals.
Description: Third baseman Mike Hessman, the active minor league home run leader, slammed three homers for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, his 11th, 12th and 13th of the season.
Insight: The 34-year-old now has 342 career minor league homers, but just 14 in 109 major league games. Still, Houston is in the bottom half of the league in runs scored this season, so Hessman may get another shot at some point.
Description: Houston slugger Carlos Lee is expected to miss Saturday's game against Cincinnati with a strained left hamstring. He could miss more than one game.
Insight: Lee suffered the injury in the eighth inning on Friday night when he hit into a double play. Lee is batting 10 points over his career average of .287, but without much power. He's got a .759 OPS this season versus a career OPS of .829.
Description: Houston slugger Carlos Lee is 1-for-12 (.083) over his career against Cincinnati starter Mike Leake.
Insight: Lee is batting 11 points over his career average of .287, but without much power. He's got a .765 OPS this season versus a career OPS of .829. Friday is not the day to start him.
Description: George Springer is off to a hot start in his first full season in professional baseball. The 2011 first round draft pick of the Astros is hitting .305 with 10 HRs and 38 RBIs as a member of the Single-A Lancaster Jethawks.
Insight: Springer has been tearing apart the California League so far in 2012. He's sixth in the league in homers and fifth in RBIs. The former Connecticut Husky took home California League Player of the Week honors back on May 14th.
Description: Astros starter Bud Norris will be sorry to see May go but he'll get one more start this month. Norris will face the Rockies at Coors Field on Thursday night.
Insight: Even with a rough outing his last time out (4 2/3 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K), Norris' line in May is 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five starts. The Astros right-hander has been better at home this season and Carlos Gonzalez did go deep three times for the Rockies last night, but Troy Tulowitzki is out with a groin strain, so feel free to start Norris on Thursday.
Description: Despite a .373 BABIP, Astros outfielder Jordan Schafer is batting just .260 this season.
Insight: Usually a high BABIP will be paired with a high batting average, but not in Schafer's case. Once his luck on batted balls begins to regress to the league average (.290-.310), Schafer's true batting average will plummet to nauseating depths.
Description: J.A. Happ gave up nine hits and three runs (two earned) in 6.1 innings Sunday in Houston's 5-1 loss to the Dodger. Happ walked two and was able to match a career-high with 10 strikeouts.
Insight: After starting the season 2-3 with a 5.72 ERA, Happ has looked much better in his past three starts, compiling a 2-1 record with a 1.47 ERA. He's certainly not one of the elite pitchers in the league but Happ could definitely hold some value in fantasy if he keeps pitching like this.
Description: Astros first base prospect Jonathan Singleton went 2-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs on Friday to follow up his 4-for-5 performance on Thursday.
Insight: Singleton, the No. 1 prospect in the Astros' organization and the No. 38 prospect on MLB.com's top 100 list, went 8-for-13 with three homers, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored in his last three games. On the season, he's batting .321 with eight big flies, 33 RBIs and a .988 OPS in 44 games for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Description: Houston outfielder J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs against the Dodgers on Friday.
Insight: The blast was Martinez' first since April 13. The Astros outfielder is 6-for-11 with six RBIs in his last three games after hitting .093 (5-for-54) from April 28 to May 21.
Description: Third baseman Mike Hessman, a 34-year-old career minor leaguer with 339 minor league homers, went 9-for-17 with three doubles, five homers and 11 RBIs in five games with Triple-A Oklahoma City last week.
Insight: Hessman is the active leader in minor league home runs. He's slugged 10 this season for Houston's Triple-A affiliate. He was drafted way back in 1996 and has just 14 major league home runs in his career, but NL-only leaguers should keep the veteran in mind if he ever gets the call-up to the Astros.
Description: Jordan Schafer (toe) is not in Houston's lineup on Wednesday.
Insight: Schafer missed Monday's game with a lower leg muscle strain. The outfielder has 13 steals, but his ability to swipe bases will be greatly diminished if he keeps suffering lower body injuries.
