The Astros have designated righty reliever Oscar Villarreal for assignment. He has pitched in 35 games (0 starts) for the Astros this season and he is 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. The Astros have recalled righty reliever Dave Borkowski from AAA ball to replace Villarreal in the bullpen. Borkowski has pitched in 18 games (0 starts) for the Astros this season and he is 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Don’t expect much out of Borkowski who has never been that good of a pitcher at the major league level.

The Astros have recalled 30-year old righty starting pitcher Runelvys Hernandez to replace Shawn Chacon in the starting rotation. He started 15 games in AAA ball this season and he was 6-3 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He also has started 1 game for the Astros this season and he is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Hernandez was once one of the brightest prospects in the Royals’ minor league system but he is running out of time to establish himself in the major leagues. He has pitched in 79 games (all starts) in his major league career and he is 25-34 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.

It’s shocking that it took so long for the Astros to figure out that Cruz can’t cut it anymore. Cruz played in 38 games for the Astros this season and he was 6 for 49 (.122 avg, .426 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 1 RBI. The Astros have called up 26-year old righty swinging Reggie Abercrombie to take Cruz’ place on the roster. Abercrombie has played in 56 games in AAA ball this season and he is 61 for 212 (.288 avg, .793 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 9 homers, 25 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Abercrombie has also whiffed an amazing 71 times in AAA ball this year. Abercrombie has played in 146 games in his major league career now and he is 69 for 331 (.208 avg, .593 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 7 homers, 29 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. He has also whiffed an astounding 100 times in his major league career. Don’t expect Abercrombie to be a huge improvement over Cruz.

The Astros finally had enough of watching starting catcher J.R. Towles get dominated by major league pitching so they have demoted him to the minors. He played in 42 games for the Astros this season and he was 17 for 117 (.145 avg, .552 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 4 homers and 14 RBIs. Humberto Quintero has been recalled from AAA ball and he might finally get his big chance at the major league level to show what he can do. Quintero has played in 32 games in AAA ball this season and he is 28 for 118 (.237 avg, .638 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers and 18 RBIs. He has played in 1 game for the Astros this season and he was 2 for 4 with a double. He has now played in 94 games in his major league career and he is 54 for 227 (.238 avg, .592 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 3 homers and 23 RBIs. Quintero will likely get his big chance to show what he can do because Brad Ausmas also hasn’t been able to hit his weight this season either. He has played in 31 games this season for the Astros and he is 16 for 82 (.195 avg, .480 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs.

The Astros have signed 31-year old righty Jorge Sosa to a minor league contract. Sosa has pitched in 20 games (0 starts) this season for the Mets and he was 4-1 with a 7.06 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP. Sosa has now pitched in 254 games (88 starts) in his major league career and he is 40-49 with 5 saves, a 4.67 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. This was a nice low risk signing for the Astros as Sosa does have a good arm.