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With the Houston Astros riding a sweep of the first-place Cardinals and suddenly finding themselves just a game out in the NL Central, it seems like a bad time for Lance Berkman to be going on the disabled list with a calf strain. Of course, that's just what the Astros announced Thursday, as Berkman's only been able to play part of one game since the end of the All-Star break. A looming four-game series against the Chicago Cubs, the team they're tied with for second, makes the timing of this news seem even worse. Berkman, as usual, is the Astros' best hitter this year, with an on-base percentage over .400 and a team high 18 homers. Without him in the lineup every day, they'll have to hope that the resurgent Miguel Tejada can keep hitting for at least two more weeks until Berkman can return to daily duty.
I don't know how the Astros can really stick around the top of the division without Berkman, but then I'm not entirely positive how they got here in the first place. They've been outscored by their opponents so far this season and besides Roy Oswalt and Wandy Rodriguez, their starting pitching has been terrible.
Common sense says that because the Cubs seem to be playing better and the Cardinals seem intent on adding at the trade deadline, that the Astros will likely fall off the pace here.
Of course, common sense hasn't really applied to the Astros the past two seasons, with their surprising run at the NL wild card last year and their position in second place now. Remember some picked them to finish behind the Pirates. Since they're hanging around now, I suppose it won't be that surprising if they're still around the top of the division when Berkman gets back.
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