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Astros getting healthy at good time

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By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

06/25/09 2:05 AM ET

HOUSTON -- Slowly but surely, the Astros are managing to piece themselves back together.

Infielder Geoff Blum, who's been on the disabled list since June 13 with a strained left hamstring, will begin a two-game Minor League rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Round Rock when it plays at Oklahoma City.

"I want to be able to play and not worry about hurting myself," Blum said. "I feel pretty good right now. I'm pretty confident. I could care less about results until I get back to the big league level."

Blum will play two games for the Express in the Oklahoma City heat before rejoining the Astros on Saturday and being activated in time for Sunday's series finale against the Tigers at Minute Maid Park.

"I'm happy to be getting on the field," Blum said. "Rehab assignments are a necessary evil, I guess. It's only going to be two games and I'll be back by Sunday, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get be back to the guys by then."

Blum, a switch-hitter, is hitting .270 with one homer and 18 RBIs in 49 games for Houston this year. He ran extensively and did some agility drills on the turf Sunday in Minnesota and had no issues, and the infielder believes he's ready to return to game action. The key will be how he performs running out of the batter's box. "That first step out of the box is key," Blum said. "On the swing, it was killing me a little bit, and getting out of the box was a pain and the first couple of steps. Giving it time to rest, it's responded pretty good, so it won't be a problem. Right now I feel pretty good."

Though nothing is positive, Blum said he plans on playing seven innings at third base Thursday and then nine innings on Friday. Blum will rejoin the team just in time to travel with the Astros to San Diego, where he lives, for a four-game series beginning Monday.

"Timing is everything," Blum said.

Meanwhile, left-hander Mike Hampton appears to be nearing a return. Hampton, on the disabled list since June 14 with a left groin strain, will throw in a simulated game Friday at Minute Maid Park. If things go as planned, he could rejoin the rotation as early as Monday in San Diego.

"So if everything goes well, we'll find a spot to put me in the rotation," said Hampton, who will throw between 50 and 60 pitches Friday in three innings of work. "I threw two [bullpen sessions] in a row and had no issues, so I feel pretty good about it. I've been playing catch since two days after [going on the DL], so I know my arm is fine.

Hampton is 4-5 with a 4.70 ERA in 12 starts this year for the Astros.

Houston's rotation could get another boost soon with the return of hard-throwing right-hander Felipe Paulino, who's been on the shelf since June 8 with a right groin strain. Paulino threw a simulated game Tuesday and manager Cecil Cooper said he's a candidate to start Saturday against Detroit.

"He felt pretty good today," Cooper said. "If it's not him, the only other guy that's gone any length is [Brandon] Backe."

Also, catcher Humberto Quintero is expected to return to the starting lineup Thursday. He hasn't played since June 18 because of a sore back.

"I ran Thursday in Dallas on a hard floor and the next day in Minneapolis I ran on the field, and it made my back hurt a little bit," Quintero said. "I feel fine."

Pitching matchup
KC: RHP Brian Bannister (5-4, 3.89 ERA)
Since being knocked around on June 3 at Tampa Bay, Bannister has been on a three-game roll. He has just one victory to show for it, along with a no-decision and a loss, but his ERA in those three games is 1.29. He's gone eight innings in each of his past two starts, a win over the Reds followed by a loss to the Cardinals. In the St. Louis game, he was just outpitched by a more superb Chris Carpenter. Bannister gave up six hits and walked none. This is his first career appearance against Houston.

HOU: RHP Brian Moehler (4-4, 6.43 ERA)
Moehler beat the Twins in his previous start Saturday, allowing only four hits in six innings. Three of the hits were solo homers, which Moehler doesn't mind giving up as long as he's not walking batters. He's won two consecutive starts for the first time this year. Considering he spent six-plus years in the American League with Detroit, he has faced the Royals seven times in his career. He's 2-1 with a 4.62 ERA, allowing 53 hits in 39 innings in those games, all starts.

Tidbits
The Astros had the highest batting average in the Majors from May 1-June 23 at .279. ... Catcher Ivan Rodriguez's .338 average (227-for-671) against Kansas City was the second-best against the Royals with players who had at least 200 at-bats. ... Second baseman Kaz Matsui hit safely in five of his first six games since being activated from the disabled list.

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Up next
• Friday: Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, 6-6, 3.18) vs. Tigers (Justin Verlander, 8-3, 3.31), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Astros (TBD) vs. Tigers (Alfredo Figaro, 1-0, 3.60), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Astros (Russ Ortiz, 3-3, 3.47) vs. Tigers (Edwin Jackson, 6-4, 2.40), 1:05 p.m. CT

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.