Lance Berkman took longer than expected to heal from a bruised left knee, and when team physician David Lintner examined the joint, he called for surgery to remove loose particles.

Berkman is expected to miss two to four weeks and is questionable for opening day.

“It’s not a sharp pain,” Berkman said. “It’s just an achy, constant thing.”

With the soreness not going away, the Astros decided to go ahead with the surgery in the hopes that they could get it out of the way and have him ready for the season opener April 5.

“I felt like there was a pretty good chance from the first episode that we might have to get this done,” Berkman said.

Berkman injured the knee in a baserunning drill early in spring training and was forced to miss the Grapefruit League…

Houston All-Star first baseman Lance Berkman will have minor surgery on his left knee Saturday and miss two-to-four weeks, a recovery period that could sideline him for opening day. The 34-year-old injured knee during a baserunning drill at spring training on March 1. Tests showed that Berkman bruised his knee, and he played five games after skipping the Astros' spring training opener.

Thursday's scheduled exhibition game between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals has been canceled because of rain. The game, which was to pit Nationals left-hander John Lannan against Houston right-hander Roy Oswalt, was called at 12:22 p.m. EST after two hours of heavy rain swept through central Florida.

Thursday's scheduled exhibition game between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals has been canceled because of rain. The game, which was to pit Nationals left-hander John Lannan against Houston right-hander Roy Oswalt, was called at 12:22 p.m. EST after two hours of heavy rain swept through central Florida.

Hayden Penn made a case for himself in the competition for one of the Marlins' three remaining rotation spots, while another hopeful arm wasn't quite as sharp. Penn, a 25-year-old right-hander, started and retired nine straight batters during three perfect innings of work, and the Marlins got back-to-back home runs from outfield prospect Mike Stanton and Dan Uggla in a 16-4 win over the…

Johan Santana struggled in his first game since August, allowing four runs on six hits in 1 2-3 innings, and the Houston Astros beat the New York Mets 8-4 on Tuesday. Kaz Matsui hit a solo homer for the first of four straight hits in the first inning off Santana, who struck out one and walked one. The left-hander made it through the short outing with no setbacks as he continues to build strength…

Cleveland’s hopes rest with the many prospects it acquired after unloading top talent.

This time last year, Tommy Hanson was a confident prospect who knew it wouldn't be long until he made the major leagues. After a half-season rising through the Atlanta Braves system, Hanson made his major league debut and surprised no one, going 11-4 in 21 starts for the Braves. Now, his confidence is just as high.

Roy Oswalt threw two rocky, yet scoreless innings in his spring debut and the Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 Saturday. Oswalt walked three and loaded the bases in the first. He allowed just one hit and struck out two while throwing 44 pitches, 25 for strikes. The right-hander said he stuck to fastballs and changeups.

Brad Mills bounces around the practice fields at the Houston Astros' spring training complex, always in the middle of the action. The 53-year-old rookie manager smacks grounders to his infielders on one field, throws batting practice on another, offers advice to pitchers fielding bunts on another.