Qualls (neck) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday. According to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow is optimistic Qualls will be ready to return after the minimum 15 days. Having last pitched June 24, the setup man will be eligible to return July 10.

Qualls struck out a batter during a scoreless inning of relief Tuesday against Oakland to pick up his fifth hold of the season. While Luke Gregerson opened 2015 as the Astros' closer and has kept the role through the first month-and-a-half of the season, Qualls has maintained his fantasy value with a win, four saves, five holds, a 2.93 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB ratio over 15.1 innings.

Qualls, who stepped into the closer role Thursday in the absence of Luke Gregerson (personal), earned his fourth save of the season against Toronto. Qualls needed only 12 pitches (nine thrown for strikes) to retire Kevin Pillar, Chris Colabello and Ryan Goins in order. He struck out one during the appearance and lowered his ERA to 3.38 this season.

Qualls earned his first win of the season in relief Wednesday against San Francisco. The veteran right-hander struck out a better during a perfect eighth inning of a 3-3 tie before the Astros took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Qualls, who temporarily filled the closer role for Houston while Luke Gregerson was on the Family Medical Emergency List, has a .176 BAA and 16:3 K:BB ratio with three saves and four holds in 14 appearances this season.

Qualls will likely step into the closer role temporarily with Luke Gregerson being placed on the Family Medical Emergency List. It's uncertain how long Gregerson may be away from the club, but Qualls figures to occupy the ninth-inning role in the meantime. Qualls gave up a run on two hits in an inning against Texas on Monday, but he's posted a .194 BAA and 14:2 K:BB with two saves and four holds in 12 appearances this season.

Qualls gave up a run during the ninth inning of a tie game against the Rangers on Monday night and took his second loss of the season. Despite the loss, Qualls (0-2) struck out two during the appearance and threw 14 of his 18 pitches for strikes. The veteran right-hander sports a 3.48 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB ratio over 10.1 innings for the Astros thus far.

Qualls, who earned a one-out save in his last relief appearance Friday night, retired two batters on five pitches Monday against San Diego to pick up his third hold of the season. Qualls entered the game with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and quickly retired Derek Norris and Will Middlebrooks. Through nine relief appearances with the Astros this season, the veteran right-hander is 0-1 with two saves, a 3.52 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB over 7.2 innings.

Qualls got a one-out save Friday night, retiring Brett Lawrie on a long fly ball to center field in the 11th inning. Qualls now has two saves this week where he almost certainly was on the bench in those leagues where he was still owned, at least where the league makes weekly moves. The first opportunity came when Luke Gregerson was unavailable, and this one came after both Gregerson and Pat Neshek had already pitched. There's no changing of the guard here, just a fortuitous break for the few that had Qualls active.

Qualls pitched a perfect ninth Tuesday against Seattle to earn his first save of the season. With Luke Gregerson unavailable Tuesday after pitching three days in row, Astros manager A.J. Hinch elected to use Qualls in the ninth inning over Pat Neshek. The veteran reliever struck out two during the appearance and lowered his ERA to 4.05 this season.

Qualls picked up his first hold of the season with a scoreless inning of relief Friday against the Rangers. Qualls protected a 3-1 Astros' lead in the bottom of the eighth inning by retiring Leonys Martin, Jake Smolinski and Adrian Beltre on 12 pitches (nine for strikes). If your league counts holds as a scoring category, the veteran reliever should see plenty of opportunities as one of Luke Gregerson's primary setup men.