Injuries piling up on road-weary Astros

Three games into the second half of the season the injury bug has bitten the Astros again. Shortstop Jed Lowrie and Catcher Jason Castro were both placed on the 15 day disabled list prior to yesterday’s game against the Giants. Lowrie, who says his entire leg hurts, has been sent back to Houston fore further evaluation. I wouldn’t expect to see Jed back on the diamond any time soon. Castro is experiencing swelling on his surgically repaired knee and could be ready to return in as little as a week.

Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Corporan were called up from AAA to replace Lowrie and Castro on the roster. A last place team that has lost 13 straight road games and 14 of 15 overall just got weaker. The Astros play their next seven games on the road, opening a four game series in San Diego tonight before traveling to Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks.

Corporan, who has played well for the RedHawks this season, had to be added to the 40-man roster. To make room Kyle Weiland was transferred to the 60 day D.L. Weiland hasn’t pitched since April and has experienced setbacks while attempting to recover from shoulder surgery. It looks like Kyle could be done for the year. In an article posted by Zachary Levine Jeff Luhnow made it sound like Weiland won’t pitch again as a national leaguer.

"Given how much time he’s missed, I’d be surprised if he made it back into the competition this year. Our focus is on just getting him healthy and getting him ready to recover in the offseason and come into spring training."

The 25 year-old Weiland showed promise this spring when he won the competition for the Astros fifth starter’s spot. I thought he pitched better than his 0-3 record and 1.75 WHIP would suggest. I guess we will have to wait until next year to see what Weiland can do. Hopefully we don’t have to wait that long for Lowrie, otherwise Jeff Luhnow’s first trade as Astros G.M. won’t look as good as we first thought it did.