Albers placed on paternity leave; Zeid called up

HOUSTON -- Astros relief pitcher Matt Albers was placed on paternity leave Tuesday and was replaced on the roster by right-hander Josh Zeid, who began the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Zeid is expected to be in Toronto for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Albers and his wife, Tara, are expecting their first child on Tuesday in Houston.

Albers, signed to a one-year, $2.45-million contract in December to pitch for his hometown Astros, pitched in three games during the first week of the season, allowing four hits in 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Players are allowed to take up to three days of paternity leave for the birth of their child.

Zeid was optioned to Triple-A late in spring camp after posting a 4.15 ERA in seven games. He appeared in 25 games in relief for the Astros last year in his Major League debut and was 0-1 with a 3.90 ERA, stranding 15 of the 17 runners he inherited.

Albers, who attended Clements High School in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, appeared in 56 games last season for Cleveland and was 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA. He's pitched eight years in the Majors, including his first two with Houston (2006-07) and three with Baltimore (2008-10).