Josh Fields allowed a solo homer but escaped to earn his fourth save of the season against the Mariners on Monday. Fields entered the cushiest of save situation: A three-run ninth inning lead in Seattle. He settled down after Brad Miller's home run and didn't allow another base runner. Fields isn't a good fantasy closer -- he isn't even a good reliever, period, as his 5.91 ERA would attest -- but it appears as though he's leapfrogged Chia-Jen Lo as Bo Porter's preferred ninth-inning option. Lo coughed up two runs in the seventh inning and now owns a 5.40 ERA.

Josh Fields worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings to record his third save of the season Thursday against the A's. The Astros' closer-by-committee is drama at its worst, a soap opera with non-existent ratings. Fields is a member of it, but would you believe that this is his first save since August 14? Chia-Jen Lo seemed to be the pilot of this airplane filled with lost souls, but he dropped to 0-3 when the Twins flogged him for four runs on Monday. Skipper Bo Porter hasn't called on Lo and his 5.25 ERA since. Mixed leaguers waste a roster spot on a Houston reliever at their own peril.

Josh Fields took a loss by giving up Josh Hamilton's walkoff homer in the 10th inning Saturday. Fields retired four Angels before surrendering the blast. He did pick up his second save against the A's on Wednesday, but he's behind Chia-Jen Lo in line for save chances right now.

Josh Fields struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save of the season on Wednesday against the A's. Chia-Jen Lo had pitched in two straight games, so skipper Bo Porter elected to call on Fields, who was enjoying the one-week anniversary of his first career blown save, a three-run fiasco against the Red Sox. Lo, who hasn't allowed a run in six appearances, remains Houston's closer, while Porter's decision on Wednesday indicates that Fields is still next in line.

Josh Fields allowed three runs in an inning of work to register his first blown save of the year on Wednesday. Fields picked up his first save on August 5 and promptly blew his first save two days later. He was called on to protect a 5-4 lead but Stephen Drew launched a three-run homer, Fields' sixth home run allowed in just 21 innings of work this year, to spoil his night. Regardless of whether he keeps the job after Wednesday, Fields is just too scary to rely on for saves.

Astros activated RHP Josh Fields from the 15-day disabled list. Fields posted a 1.80 ERA and 8/2 K/BB ratio in 10 innings over seven rehab appearances and is now ready to rejoin the Astros' bullpen. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since the first week of the season due to a right forearm strain.

Josh Fields (forearm) could be activated from the disabled list in 7-10 days. Fields suffered a right forearm strain in the first week of the season and has appeared in four games at Double-A Corpus Christi during his rehab assignment. The Astros want to see Fields work consecutive games without any setbacks before he's activated from the DL.

Josh Fields (forearm) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday with High-A Quad Cities. Fields is scheduled to throw two innings. The Rule 5 pick appeared in two games with the Astros in early April prior to being placed on the disabled list. If all goes well, he could return to the big club sometime this month.

Josh Fields (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Monday at about 90 percent intensity. Fields is gradually increasing the intensity each time out and will be ready to face hitters in a few days. He seems likely to be ready to return from his forearm strain early next month.

Astros placed RHP Josh Fields on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 4, with a right forearm strain. A Rule 5 pick, Fields was injured in his lone appearance with the Astros last week. Paul Clemens has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace him in the bullpen.