Jed Lowrie to DL; Astros Recall Brian Bixler

The Houston Astros were hoping shortstop Jed Lowrie would be good to go when they started their season last night against the Colorado Rockies.  Unfortunately for the Astros, Lowrie was deemed unable to play and the club officially placed the 27-year-old on their 15-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb.  Houston recalled Brian Bixler to fill Lowrie’s roster spot, and rookie Marwin Gonzalez started the game at short for the Astros.

Lowrie initially injured his thumb while diving back into second base during a March 28 spring training contest.  X-rays and MRIs have shown no ligament damage to the thumb, but Lowrie wasn’t able to advance beyond hitting from a tee before Friday’s opener.

Houston’s decision to put Lowrie on the DL means they will be without their offseason acquisition for at least the first six games of the year.  For his part, Lowrie’s confident he’ll be ready to go in a week’s time, but the guy doesn’t exactly have a reputation as ‘Mr. Durable’.

Lowrie’s dealt with several injuries throughout his career and was limited to only 88 games in 2011, and this was Lowrie’s highest such total since reaching the majors in 2008.

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