ARLINGTON -- The Astros are using a three-man rotation at first base, a position that was locked down by Chris Carter for the first half of the season. But his yearlong struggles on offense and the return of third baseman Jed Lowrie -- which pushes Luis Valbuena to first base on occasion -- has meant less playing time, and he has started at first just once in the past week.
Carter, who started 74 of the season's first 80 games at first, is still getting the occasional assignment, as well as some starts as designated hitter, but manager A.