Feldman, Marisnick prepping for rehab stints

HOUSTON -- An overcrowded Astros disabled list may soon be thinning as Scott Feldman and Jake Marisnick should both make rehab starts by the weekend, according to manager A.J. Hinch.

Feldman threw a three-inning simulated game of about 50 pitches on Tuesday afternoon with Marisnick and Jon Singleton standing in and taking swings, even shattering Marisnick's bat on an inside changeup.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Marisnick joked. "Bad wood."

Feldman, who is in the fourth week of rehabbing from a torn right medial meniscus, said the duration has felt more like four years and thinks he's on target for a rehab assignment soon. Hinch said Feldman could be sent out by this weekend, though he wasn't sure of which affiliate Feldman would join.

"If you're out on the mound and you have a hitter with a helmet and a bat competing against you, that just ramps up activity. Just one step along the way of getting back to game activity," Hinch said. "We want him to be carefree and ready to go by the time we bring him back, so we'll want to test him in every way possible before we activate him."

"No setbacks or anything along the way," Feldman added. "Have to get it done and hope to get back into a real game soon. Any step in the right direction is good."

Marisnick will leave on Wednesday for a rehab assignment at Triple-A Fresno in a final step of rehabbing his strained left hamstring sustained on June 19.

Feldman's simulated game was the first time Marisnick had seen live pitching since his injury, though Marisnick has been running the bases and taking live fly balls in the outfield.

"Hopefully I'll be able to get out and start playing here soon," Marisnick said. "The time off kills you. I've just been walking on the bench trying to find something to do."

Rasmus stays overnight in hospital
Though outfielder Colby Rasmus' condition is improving, the infected bug bite on his left wrist left him hospitalized overnight on Monday receiving antibiotics.

Hinch said he's been in touch with doctors and trainers and they've assured him Rasmus' condition is improving and progressing, and the club isn't considering putting Rasmus on the DL just yet.

"We've got a balance of enough position players now that we're sort of used to a three-man bench," Hinch said. "And one of those guys being an outfielder helps alleviate some of the concern. As it gets into the road trip, we'll have to monitor his availability."