HOUSTON -- Manager Phil Garner has used three different players at the top of his lineup this season -- Craig Biggio, Willy Taveras and even Chris Burke.

On Saturday afternoon, Garner slotted Orlando Palmeiro into the leadoff spot against the Braves.

"He needs to play every once in a while -- more than [just] one at-bat," Garner said.

Palmeiro couldn't remember the last time he led off in the big leagues. In his previous four starts of '06, Palmeiro batted second three times and seventh once. But he's used to being bounced around in a manager's lineup.

"I've hit everywhere," Palmeiro said. "It feels good to be able to get some at-bats. We have a lot of guys who need playing time like, [Mike] Lamb, and those are [the] guys who are really playing off the bench.

"So, it's nice to get those at-bats to get in tune for what I'm doing -- coming off the bench."

Palmeiro will take those at-bats whenever and wherever he can in Garner's lineup.

"It doesn't really matter where I hit," Palmeiro said. "I'm still a guy who's going to try and get on base, so wherever they put me, I've got to do whatever I've got to do to get on."

Palmeiro got on base on Thursday night with a two-run pinch-hit single against the Braves, which gave the Astros a little breathing room in their 7-4 win at Minute Maid Park.

Palmeiro has had some success against the Braves during his 12-year career, particularly against right-hander Tim Hudson. Palmeiro's batting .414 (12-for-29) against the Braves right-hander, with two doubles and five RBIs.

Yet Palmeiro says those stats don't matter.

"Nobody likes facing him," Palmeiro said of Hudson. "He's got good stuff. I wouldn't sit here and talk about how fun it is to face him, because it isn't true."

Berkmans' third: On Saturday at 2:10 p.m. CT, Cara Berkman gave birth to a baby girl, Katie Mae Berkman, who weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce. She is Cara and Lance Berkman's third daughter.

More to the makeover: The addition of Palmeiro to the lineup wasn't the only change on Saturday.

Eric Munson was penciled in for Berkman, who is out of the lineup to be with his wife and new arrival. Munson was slotted into the cleanup position for the first time all year. This was his 14th start, but in previous games, he was slotted into the seventh spot for 10 of those games.

Jason Lane was also back in Garner's lineup as well. He batted sixth and started in center for the first time in '06.

"I feel like Jason Lane's on the verge of getting loose," Garner said, "so we'll give him a chance to play. I think his approach has gotten a little more solid. He's made a couple of adjustments that I think are going to work for him."

The other omissions from the lineup were Biggio, who was getting a day off, and Morgan Ensberg. Garner chose to keep Ensberg out of the lineup because of his bruised right shoulder. The third baseman is still listed as day-to-day, but he might be available to pinch-hit on Saturday.

"His shoulder's held him up a little bit, let's see if he might be able to hit," Garner said. "We'll probably get a chance to get him in."

Lamb remained in the No. 2 slot for the second straight game after his 3-for-3 performance on Friday night. Burke batted third and started for the second day in a row after separating his left shoulder on Wednesday.

The waiting game: With Roy Oswalt scheduled to come off the disabled list and pitch on June 14 against the Cubs and Roger Clemens slated to return on June 22, the Astros will have a few decisions to make regarding their rotation.

However, the club's not ready to disclose those changes just yet.

"I haven't decided yet," Garner said. "Just go pitch."

His young starters -- left-hander Wandy Rodriguez and right-handers Fernando Nieve and Chris Sampson -- have pitched well this week, and they're making those decisions a bit more difficult.

"The good thing about the starters is, you don't want to be the guy who doesn't win when you're having a good week," Garner said. "That's how the feeding frenzy starts."

Soccer crazy: Taveras had his eyes on the World Cup before Saturday afternoon's game. He was watching Sweden play Trinidad and Tobago, a game which ended in a scoreless tie, at his locker.

Taveras picked Trinidad as his sleeper club, but he expects Brazil to win the whole thing -- again.

"They've won five times," Taveras said.

Quotable: "I think he could pitch another 10 years with his arm. It's his legs and back that's a concern." -- Garner on Clemens

Coming up: The Astros wrap up their four-game series against the Braves on Sunday at Minute Maid Park. Rodriguez (7-3, 4.36) takes the mound against Braves left-hander Horacio Ramirez (2-1, 3.24) at 1:05 p.m. CT.