The Astros have placed starting 2B Jeff Keppinger on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured toe. Keppinger has played in 108 games this season for the Astros and he is 117 of 410 (.285 avg, .743 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 5 homers, 46 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Astros are going to miss Keppinger who was a very tough out as he has only whiffed 29 times this year. The Astros have recalled 27-year old switch hitting infielder Anderson Hernandez to replace Keppinger on the roster. Hernandez played in 6 games for the Astros earlier this year and he was 2 of 13 (.154 avg, .445 OPS) with 2 runs scored.

The Astros have placed 30-year old righty reliever Matt Lindstrom on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms. Lindstrom has pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Astros this year and he is 2-4 with 22 saves, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He has given up 54 hits and he has walked 17 batters in 43 1/3 innings as his effectiveness has started to wane lately. 30-year old righty Brandon Lyon and 26-year old righty Wilton Lopez will likely share save opportunities until Lindstrom is ready to come back. Lyon has pitched in 58 games (0 starts) for the Astros this year and he is 6-5 with 4 saves, a 3.63 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Wilton Lopez has been very effective this year for the Astros. He has pitched in 52 games (0 starts) and he is 4-0 with 1 save, a 2.94 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He has whiffed 39 batters while only walking 5 in 52 innings for the Astros this year showing he has the stuff to handle working late in ballgames. The Astros have called up 24-year old lefty reliever Fernando Abad to replace Lindstrom on the active roster and in the bullpen. Abad pitched in 1 game earlier this year working a scoreless inning for the Astros. Abad has also pitched in 19 games (4 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Astros and he was 4-3 with a 2.35 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

The Astros have placed 38-year old righty starting pitcher Brian Moehler on the 15-day disabled list with a groin injury. Moehler has pitched in 20 games (8 starts) for the Astros so far this season and he is 1-4 with a 4.92 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He has given up 66 hits and has walked 26 batters in only 56 2/3 innings so it’s not like the Astros will be looking to replace Cy Young.

The Astros have placed 37-year old switch hitting infielder Geoff Blum on the 15-day disabled list with a elbow injury. Blum has played in 59 games this season for the Astros and he is 33 of 137 (.241 avg, .618 OPS) with 15 runs scored and 14 RBIs. The Astros have recalled 28-year old righty swinging outfielder Jason Bourgeios to replace Blum on the active roster. Bourgeios played in 9 games earlier this season for the Astros and he was 5 of 17 (.294 avg, .782 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

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?