Wilton Lopez is unavailable to pitch Tuesday after feeling some tightness in his right elbow while throwing batting practice. Lopez's run as the Astros' closer has been halted before it even began. The team don't consider the tightness to be a big deal, but the fact that he's pitching with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament and is now experiencing discomfort should give fantasy owners pause. It's not clear who might handle a potential save chance Tuesday.

Astros manager Brad Mills confirmed Tuesday that Wilton Lopez is his new primary ninth-inning man. Houston tried out Francisco Cordero in the role but that went extremely poorly. Lopez should do much better, though it's unlikely the Astros will hold many late-game leads down the stretch. That big-league roster has been torn to shreds by GM Jeff Luhnow's rebuilding project.

Astros activated RHP Wilton Lopez from the 15-day disabled list. Lopez has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, but he and the Astros believe he can pitch through it. Lopez, 28, has a solid 2.51 ERA and 26/4 K/BB ratio over 32 1/3 innings this year. He'll return to a late-inning setup role.

Astros manager Brad Mills said Wilton Lopez (elbow) "felt good and threw the ball very well" during his bullpen session Wednesday. It was his first session off a mound since being diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. Lopez will throw another bullpen session over the weekend before beginning a rehab assignment. It sounds like he could be back before the All-Star break if all goes well.

Wilton Lopez (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list earlier this month. Lopez was recently diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, but the Astros are optimistic he'll be able to rehab the injury. However, his absence is likely to stretch into the second half.

Astros placed RHP Wilton Lopez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 11, with a strained right elbow. No word yet on the severity of the injury or a timetable for his return. Lopez, 28, has a solid 2.51 ERA and 26/4 K/BB ratio over 32 1/3 innings this year. Fernando Abad was activated from the disabled list and will replace him on the active roster.

The Astros are shutting down right-hander Wilton Lopez for a couple days due to forearm tightness. Astros manager Brad Mills said the issue isn't considered serious. Lopez, 28, had a 2.79 ERA and 56/18 K/BB ratio over 71 innings last season and is projected to pitch in a set-up role again in 2012.