Brett Wallace will start at third base Thursday against the Nationals. Wallace has played four innings at third base with the Astros this season, but all 17 of his starts have been at first base. However, Scott Moore is making the start at first on Thursday.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow hinted Monday that Brett Wallace will soon be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Wallace is plenty deserving of a look at first base, as he batted .333 (12-for-36) with two homers in 11 games with the Astros last month and is hitting .289/.361/.484 with 13 home runs, 46 RBI and an .844 OPS in 75 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. "Obviously, I think he's capable of helping us win some ballgames, but I feel good about the guys we have on the roster right now," explained Luhnow. "There's a lot of scenarios [in which] he comes up in the not-too-distant future and spends the rest of the season with us." He'll be worth using in NL-only leagues upon his arrival.

Astros manager Brad Mills said Brett Wallace has "definitely got to be in the mix" for a call-up after the All-Star break. Wallace batted .333/.415/.583 with the Astros over 11 games last month and is hitting .290 with 13 homers and 46 RBI at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. "We've talked about him," Mills said. "I don't think we've reached, to my knowledge, a decision on what we are going to do there, but he's definitely got to be in the mix simply because of what he did when he was here and what he continues to do in Oklahoma City." The 'Stros have been going with Chris Johnson at first base of late, with Matt Dominguez and Scott Moore sharing third base.

Astros optioned 1B Brett Wallace to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Wallace registered a cool .333/.415/.583 batting line in 11 games with Houston, but he was no longer needed with Carlos Lee returning to full health. The 25-year-old Wallace should get another shot later this summer.

Astros optioned INF Brett Wallace to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He'll be the regular third baseman there. There's a reason Wallace was moved across the diamond, but if the Astros are convinced he can play there adequately, he has a good chance of unseating Chris Johnson at the hot corner eventually.

Brett Wallace connected on his first homer this spring -- a 3-run blast against the Marlins on Monday. The shot came off of Miami's Wade LeBlanc, who had not given up a run in 10 1/3 innings. Wallace is now hitting a cool .321/.387/.536 in 28 at-bats. Meanwhile, LeBlanc settled down after giving up the home run, and now boasts a 0.61 ERA and 0.41 WHIP through 14 2/3 frames.

Astros signed INF Brett Wallace, OF Brian Bogusevic, RHP Fernando Rodriguez, and LHP Fernando Abad to one-year contracts. Wallace will see time at third base during spring training with Carlos Lee expected to serve as the club's starting first baseman. Bogusevic, 28, is coming off a season that saw him hit .287 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 87 games with the Astros. Rodriguez and Abad figure to compete for bullpen duties.

Astros manager Brad Mills said Wednesday on 1560-AM in Houston that Brett Wallace will take grounders at third base during spring training. Wallace began his professional career as a third baseman as a farmhand with the Cardinals, but he made the move over to first base following trades to Oakland and Toronto. His defensive chops are still questionable, but some versatility could help his chances of providing value to the Astros with Carlos Lee expected to serve as the club's starting first baseman this season.

Brett Wallace was released from the Dominican Winter League earlier this week, according to Steve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle. It's not unprecedented for players to get released from winter ball, but it's worth noting that Wallace continues to regress since turning over the first base job to veteran Carlos Lee. A former first-round pick of the Cardinals, Wallace finished the 2011 season with a .259 average, five homers, and 29 RBIs in 336 at-bats. The Astros were hoping for a better winter performance, but GM Ed Wade still expects him to come in and compete for a backup job in spring training.

Astros recalled 1B Brett Wallace from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Wallace was demoted to the minor leagues at the end of July after batting just .268/.345/.375 in a starting role. He should see semi-regular playing time in September.