The Astros have placed 30-year old righty reliever Jeff Fulchino on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow tendinitis. He has pitched in 29 games (0 starts) for the Astros this season and he is 0-0 with a 6.83 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Fulchino has allowed 38 hits (5 homers) in only 29 innings this season as he has been pretty darn awful. The Astros have recalled 29-year old righty reliever Casey Daigle to replace Fulchino in the pen. Daigle pitched in 9 games (0 starts) earlier this season for the Astros and he was 0-1 with a 8.10 ERA and a 2.40 WHIP. Daigle gave up 13 hits in only 6 2/3 innings with the Astros earlier this season as he didn’t miss many bats. Fulchino or Daigle….does that really make a difference?

The Astros have recently signed 33-year old lefty swinging shortstop Ramon Vazquez to a minor league deal. Vazquez has played in 4 games in AAA-ball so far this season for the Astros and he is 5 of 11 (.455 avg, 1.045 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. He has played in 39 games overall this season in AAA and he is 32 of 136 (.235 avg, .638 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 1 homer and 13 RBIs. Vazquez has played nine years in the majors and he is 496 of 1,951 (.254 avg, .678 OPS) with 244 runs scored, 22 homers, 176 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. With the Astros current situation at SS you would have to think that Vazquez will be in Houston soon if he continues to hit for them in AAA.

26-year old righty reliever Wilton Lopez has been a pleasant surprise for the Houston Astros so far this season. Lopez has pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Astros so far this season and he is 3-0 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. His control has been flawless only walking 3 batters in 30 1/3 innings this season which has really led him to success. Lopez might have found a niche as the Astros’ new 7th inning man ahead of Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom. He looks much more comfortable than last season when he worked in 8 games (2 starts) for the Astros in which he was 0-2 with a 8.38 ERA and a 2.07 WHIP.

The Astros have designated 27-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Banks for assignment. Banks started 1 game for the Astros working 4 innings in which he gave up 8 hits, walked 4 batters and he allowed 6 earned runs as he was the losing pitcher. The Astros have activated 25-year old righty starting pitched Bud Norris from the D.L. to replace Banks in the rotation. Norris has started 9 games for the Astros this season and he is 2-5 with a 6.80 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. Norris has whiffed 54 batters in only 43 2/3 innings this season but that has been part of his problem. He’s throwing instead of pitching as he has allowed 51 hits while walking 26 batters this season. Norris has a nice upside as long as he starts throwing strikes.

The Astros have placed 26-year old righty starting pitcher Felipe Paulino on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis. Paulino has started 14 games for the Astros this year and he is 1-8 with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. His control is what gets him into trouble as he has walked 43 batters in 86 innings this season. If Paulino improves his control when he gets healthy he can be a solid pitcher as he has only given up 2 homers this year among the 87 hits he has allowed. The Astros have called up 27-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Banks to replace Paulino in the starting rotation. Banks has pitched in 15 games (all starts) in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 8-5 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He pitches to contact so the Astros’ infield better be ready when he’s on the mound as he has only whiffed 34 batters this season while walking 24. Banks has pitched in 26 games (18 starts) in his three years in the majors and he is 4-7 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.