Lance Berkman is off to a simply amazing start to the month of May for the Houston Astros. He has played in 9 games this month and he is 22 for 35 (.629 avg, 1.826 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers, 11 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Berkman is one of the leaders for the MVP race this season in the National League with the numbers he’s putting up right now. He has played in 37 games this season for the Astros and he is 52 for 136 (.382 avg, 1.135 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 12 homers and 36 RBIs!

Miguel Tejada promised a young, sick boy that he would hit a homer tonight and he did bringing back memories of Lou Gehrig so long ago. Tejada has been awesome for the Astros this season despite all of the off season problems he had off the field. Tejada has played in 30 games this year for the Astros and he is 41 for 117 (.350 avg, .974 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 5 homers and 24 RBIs. With the Astros lineup being so potent they will likely get on a hot streak if the pitching starts to come around soon.

Lance Berkman is off to a fast start with the bat for the Astros this season. He has played in 12 games for the Astros so far this season and he is 14 for 45 (.311 avg, 1.113 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 4 homers, 10 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. With the new and improved lineup around Berkman, he could put up career numbers in 2008.

The Astros have signed four pretty decent players to minor league contracts to add depth. 28 year old righty swinging catcher J.R. House played with the Orioles last season. He played in 19 games last year and he was 8 for 38 (.211 avg, .768 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 3 homers and 3 RBIs. House has now played in 29 games in his major league career and he is 10 for 57 (.175 avg, .603 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 3 RBIs. The Astros have also brought in 28-year old righty swinging Lance Niekro. Niekro played in 11 games last season for the Giants and he was 3 for 17 (.176 avg, .398 OPS). Niekro has now played in 195 games in his major league career and he is 123 for 499 (.246 avg, .709 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 17 homers and 79 RBIs. Outfielder Victor Diaz played in 37 games last season for the Rangers and he was 25 of 104 (.240 avg, .797 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 9 homers and 25 RBIs. Diaz has now played in 147 games in his major league career and he is 114 of 446 (.256 avg, .796 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 24 homers and 73 RBIs. 37 year old righty reliever Mike DeJean last played in the majors in 2006 with the Rockies. DeJean has now pitched in 565 games (1 start) in his major league career and he is 30-33 with 52 saves, a 4.30 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.

Luke Scott looked like he was sleepwalking in the first half of the season but he has been dominant since the All-Star Break. In 29 games since the All-Star Break, Scott is 26 for 78 (.333 avg, 1.063 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers and 17 RBIs. The Astros need to get Scott more at bats as long as he keeps swinging the bat well. In 104 games this season now Scott is 75 for 295 (.254 avg, .849 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 14 homers and 55 RBIs.