Worth noting

• Relief pitcher Matt Albers, on the disabled list since April 22 with shoulder tendinitis, will stay in Houston while the team hits the road this week. Albers had a cortisone shot Tuesday and is still at least a week way from throwing, but he will rehab at Methodist Hospital.

• Relief pitcher Jesse Crain, who's on the 60-day disabled list, threw in the bullpen at Minute Maid Park on Saturday without any problems and will head back to Kissimmee, Fla., to continue his rehab from biceps tendinitis surgery and bursititis.

"When we start talking about facing live hitters, that's when we really are getting somewhere," Porter said.