Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Oberholtzer taking Feldman's turn in rotation

Lefty rejoining Astros from Minor League rehab for blister issue

HOUSTON -- With veteran right-hander Scott Feldman expected to miss six weeks following knee surgery performed Friday, left-hander Brett Oberholtzer will return to the rotation and start Monday's game against the Orioles at Minute Maid Park.

Oberholtzer was pretty much a shoo-in to make the rotation out of Spring Training, but suffered a blister that put him on the disabled list. He made one start for the Astros on May 13 against the Giants but only lasted three innings when the skin covering his blister came off. The lefty made one rehab start and was going to make another for Triple-A Fresno when Feldman got hurt.

"He hasn't had any problems," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "It healed fast the next time around. It wasn't nearly as drastic as the one in Spring Training. He got into the mid-80s with his pitch count last start. We were going to have him make another start in the Minor Leagues, but it didn't pan out that way. … It will be nice to have him back."

Oberholtzer went 5-13 with a 4.39 ERA in 24 starts last year. The Astros won nine of his last 17 starts from May 24-Sept. 17, during which he went 5-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 105 2/3 innings.

Worth noting

• Astros right-hander Brad Peacock, who's been on the disabled list since April 17 with a left intercostal strain, threw in the bullpen Friday for the first time since going on the DL. He threw 25 pitches, mostly fastballs, and said he feels good. He'll throw again Monday, with hopes of going on Minor League rehab in the next week or two.

• Third-base prospect Colin Moran, who's been out of action at Double-A Corpus Christi since suffering a non-displaced jaw fracture while sliding into second base, has been activated for the Hooks. Moran, who had been rehabbing at the Astros' complex in Kissimmee, Fla., was batting .268 with 17 RBIs.

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Houston Astros, Brett Oberholtzer