Worth noting

• Chris Carter was out of the lineup Tuesday for a third consecutive game with a minor hand injury. Carter's right hand was hit by a thrown ball Friday as he slid into second base against the Rangers. He missed Saturday's game, but pinch-hit Sunday and went through a full batting practice Tuesday at Busch Stadium.

"I shook his hand. He said, 'It's OK for me to shake your hand, but if you squeeze, it hurts,'" Porter said. "He didn't really feel too many ill effects, but I think it's good for him to go through a full batting practice today."

• Outfielder Justin Maxwell, who was placed on the seven-day disabled list with concussion-related symptoms on June 30, went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first rehab start Monday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Porter said doctors will reevaluate Maxwell after a few games and if all goes well, he will return to the Astros. Porter didn't rule out Maxwell playing in this weekend's series against Tampa Bay.

"After the few days he plays, if the doctors deem him physically OK, then we're going to get him back here as soon as we can," Porter said.