Houston activated Wade Miller from the DL on Wednesday so that he could start for them in that evening's game against the Cardinals. However, Miller had to leave the game in the fourth inning due to a stiff back.

According to the Astros, there's nothing seriously wrong with Miller; his back merely stiffened while the team was batting in the bottom of the third. Houston had four singles, a double, and two walks in the bottom of the third to score five runs. St. Louis also made a call to the pen that extended the length of the inning. Consequently, Miller tightened up while waiting to pitch.

This back stiffness is reportedly unrelated to the pinched nerve in his neck, which caused his trip to the DL. The Astros will push his next start back one day but don't otherwise expect this to affect his future schedule or performance. He also appears to have recovered from the nerve problem, so that should no longer bother him.

When they activated Miller, Houston placed Dave Mlicki on the DL retroactive to May 26th. Mlicki left his start against the Cubs prior to the third inning last Saturday. He was feeling fine through the first two innings, though he allowed two hits and a walk with no strikeouts. Then when warming up for the third inning, he felt a stabbing pain in his left side and exited the game. He's since been diagnosed with a strained intercostal muscle and will miss the next month, possibly not returning until after the All-Star break.

Tim Redding entered the rotation when Miller went on the DL and will simply continue to start during Mlicki's absence. Redding has pitched well this season, allowing only 33 H and 3 HR in 40 IP with a 33:19 K:BB.

Houston placed Scott Linebrink on the DL last weekend with a strained right elbow. An MRI determined that he has neither tendon nor ligament damage so he will take anti-inflammatory medication and rest before beginning a rehab assignment. He'll likely need two to three weeks after he begins throwing again before he can rejoin the team, so I don't expect him back before the All-Star break.

The Astros called up Jim Mann to replace Linebrink on the roster. The 27-year-old has received brief major league call-ups the last two seasons, but otherwise spent most of the last four years in AAA. His skills look very good and he should be able to provide quality relief innings for Houston. Last season in the hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League, Mann had an 81:17 K:BB in 68 IP with only 52 H and 7 HR allowed.

In addition to their injury-induced changes to the pitching staff, Houston has also made some changes to the offense. Morgan Ensberg lost his job to Geoff Blum and was sent down on Thursday. He wasn't doing that poorly until he went hitless from May 22-27. When the Astros demoted him, he was hitting .236 with a .336 OBP and a .386 SLG on 30 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, and 3 HR in 127 AB with a 16:24 K:BB. He'd also successfully stolen 2 bases in his only two attempts. Blum has 20 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, and 1 HR in 85 AB with an 11:18 BB:K for a .235 BA, .330 OBP, and a .353 SLG.

Ensberg could stand to improve his plate discipline, but I don't think that a couple of weeks in AAA are going to help him accomplish that at this time. He's at least as good a player as Blum right now and has much better upside, as in addition to a more promising statistical past, Ensberg is three years younger than Blum. Watching Blum as the Astros played the Cubs this weekend, Ensberg is also likely a better crowd draw, due to Blum's rather ugly bleached blonde hair.

The Astros called up Keith Ginter to replace Ensberg on the roster. Blum has secured the third base job for the moment so Ginter will work off the bench. In 193 AB at AAA New Orleans in the Pacific Coast League, Ginter had 49 H, 10 2B, and 4 HR, with a 22:51 BB:K for a .254 BA, .350 OBP, and .368 SLG. He'd also stolen one base in 4 attempts.

Houston sent down Jason Lane when the Astros acquired Pedro Borbon in mid-May. Lane only received two plate appearances after we discussed his debut. He walked once and flied out his second time up. Lane will likely remain in the minors until September, barring an injury to one of the team's outfielders or Jeff Bagwell, as the Astros really don't have room for him right now.