HOUSTON -- Phil Garner cringed. The Astros manager wasn't in pain, but it clearly pains him to have to talk about Houston center fielder Willy Taveras as a National League Rookie of the Year candidate.

"Let's just see how the season goes," Garner said, when the subject came up on Friday. "He's done a good job for us so far."

While Garner's caution may be understandable -- whether it springs from superstition or a desire to keep from putting stars in the rookie's eyes in the middle of a pennant race -- Taveras' numbers are going to be hard for voters to ignore when the ballots are distributed this fall.

Taveras entered Friday's game with a .298 batting average, the third highest in the league among rookies. He leads all NL rookies in runs (59), hits (129), total bases (155), stolen bases (27) and multi-hit games (40). Only Colorado's Brad Hawpe, with nine, has more outfield assists among rookies than Taveras, who has seven.

Taveras' candidacy also gets a boost because he stepped into a very difficult spot for a rookie; he followed premier free agent Carlos Beltran, taking over the spacious center field at Minute Maid Park after the switch-hitting slugger signed with the New York Mets this winter. He was also called on to bat leadoff on a contending team.

To say Taveras has handled it well is an understatement.

Houston has had outstanding batters hit leadoff from time to time, with such talents as Joe Morgan, Billy Doran, Omar Moreno, Terry Puhl, Brian Hunter and Craig Biggio among those who have manned the top spot for the Astros over the years. None have had a better burst of speed than Taveras brings to the batter's box. He has been clocked at 3.8 seconds down the line. That kind of speed has added a whole new dimension to the Houston offense.

If there's one knock on Taveras thus far it has been a few defensive mistakes he's made. But Taveras is working on getting better reads.

"I work every day on those," Taveras said. "There's a lot to learn, but I'm working hard and trying to get better each day."

Garner has seen progress on one aspect of Taveras' fielding. The rookie had trouble on a few balls that were hit to the outfielder's left. Taveras has worked on getter better reads on those.

"I think he's heading toward fixing it," Garner said. "Sometimes you can't hear the sound [of the crack of the bat] so you have to react on the bat. I think he'll be OK."

Backe not back yet: Brandon Backe, out since July 25 because of a strained intercostal (abdomen) muscle, reported no change in his condition Friday.

"No change," Backe said. "I'd like to say it's getting a little better, but I really can't say for sure until I throw and I'm not supposed to throw until I can't feel [the pain]. So, basically, I just have to wait until I can't feel it any more."

Once Backe can resume throwing off the mound, the Astros will have a better idea of a timetable for his return.

"He'll have to go out on a rehab [assignment]," Garner said.

In the meantime, Ezequiel Astacio has been filling Backe's slot in the rotation.

Extra bases: The Astros over the years have struggled against pitchers they haven't seen before, which didn't bode well for their game Friday night against Pittsburgh's unbeaten rookie Zach Duke. "I think it's usually to the pitcher's advantage when the hitters haven't seen them," Garner said. "But then for smart pitchers, it's to their advantage when they've seen you because they know where your holes are." That isn't always the case, however. "I took a whole team into the National League and I figured nobody knows our pitchers, maybe it will be an advantage," Garner said, referring to his stint as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers during 1992-99. "That didn't turn out to be an advantage." In 1998, the Brewers moved from the AL Central to the NL Central, and went 74-88. ... Jason Lane, who hit .234 before the break, is hitting .373 since then, a difference of 139 points, which is the biggest improvement of any National League hitter with at least 250 at-bats this season. ... Jeff Bagwell took batting practice again Friday as he continues his rehab following shoulder surgery. Bagwell hit off hitting coach Gary Gaetti and swung smoothly. There is a chance the first baseman could return in September. ... Taveras increased his hitting streak to nine consecutive games with a base hit in the first inning on Friday. ... Lance Berkman has been bothered by an upset stomach but has remained in the lineup.

Down on the farm: A bases-loaded triple by Todd Self helped Triple-A Round Rock beat Sacramento 6-3. Right-hander Travis Driskill (9-4) got the win and reliever Scott Strickland pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save. ... Double-A Corpus Christi won its third straight game Thursday night, beating Wichita 3-2. Right-hander Jason Hirsh (11-8) got the win and Mark Saccomanno hit his 10th home run. First baseman J.R. Philips went 3-for-3 with a home run. ... Center fielder Hunter Pence had three hits for Salem and raised his batting average to .331. ... Third baseman Koby Clemens, son of Astros pitcher Roger Clemens, is sidelined with a sore hamstring and is expected to return to action on Tuesday.

Coming up: Clemens (11-4, 1.38 ERA), the Major League Baseball ERA leader, tries to extend his winning streak to four consecutive games on Saturday as the Wild Card-leading Astros take on Kip Wells (6-12, 4.86 ERA) and Pittsburgh in a 6:05 p.m. CT game at Minute Maid Park.