Jeff Keppinger dealt to San Francisco

Astros director of social media Alyson Footer is reporting via Twitter that Jeff Kepinger has been traded to the San Francisco Giants. In return the Astros recieve pitchers Henry Sosa and Jason Stoffel. Keppinger hit .307 with 4 homers and 20 RBIs in 43 games for the Astros this season. The toughest player in the league to strikeout will find himself in the midst of a pennant race with the defending World Champs.

Angel Sanchez gets the start at second base tonight and Jose Altuve will join the team tomorrow. I will be very upset if Altuve is not starting at second base and batting second every day. Although he was only recently promoted to AA, Altuve has been stellar with Corpus Christi, hitting .361/.388/.569 and stealing five bases in 35 games. Altuve is a career .327/.386.481 hitter in five minor league seasons.

Both pitchers acquired in the deal are right-handers. Stoffel is a closer with a 10.2 K/9 IP over his career. He was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. Sosa, who turns 26 later this month, is from the Dominican Republic. He is in his sixth season in the Giants organization and has a career mark of 37-21 with a 3.61 ERA and averages 8.1 K/9 IP.