Wilton

Lopez

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.

“Lyon has experience and a lot of the closer role really is about having experience in those pressure situations,’' Luhnow said. ''No matter what, whether it’s the ninth, eighth or seventh inning, he will play an important role because of his veteran presence.” Lyon, who is owed $5.5 million in 2012, posted an ugly 11.48 ERA in 15 games this past season before undergoing surgery in June to repair a detached right biceps tendon and a torn labrum. Wilton Lopez, David Carpenter, Henry Sosa and Rule 5 pick Rhiner Cruz are also possibilities for the ninth-inning gig.

As it should be. Brandon Lyon (shoulder) and David Carpenter are the leading candidates for the gig, but other relievers like Wilton Lopez could also be in the mix. Astros’ manager Brad Mills will likely settle on a closer by the end of spring training, but we suspect this could be an area of flux during the season.

So will closer Brett Myers, meaning ninth-inning duties could fall to someone like Wilton Lopez. The Astros are also preparing to shop left-handed starter Wandy Rodriguez. Houston should be one of the more active teams at the July 31 deadline.

Cordero, who was acquired from the Blue Jays last week, has blown back-to-back save chances while allowing six runs on five hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings. Wilton Lopez would get the ball in a save situation Thursday and figures to take over the gig before long.

It’s a minor thing, so consider him day-to-day for now. Wilton Lopez would presumably get the ball in a save situation and should take the closer gig away from the struggling Cordero in time.

Cordero was called upon to protect Lucas Harrell’s 2-1 lead, and it didn’t take him long to give it up. After retiring the first hitter, he allowed a single to Zack Cozart and a two-run homer to Drew Stubbs. As if that damage wasn’t enough, Cordero then walked two hitters and allowed an RBI single to Xavier Paul. He doesn’t possess the dominant stuff that once made him successful in the ninth inning, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Astros turn to Wilton Lopez for their next potential save chance.

Coco is cooked. The 37-year-old righty has been every bit as brutal for the Astros as he was for the Blue Jays, allowing a staggering six runs on eight baserunners in just 2 1/3 innings. He’s simply no longer capable of retiring major-league hitters. It’s hard to imagine Wilton Lopez won’t get the ball in the Astros’ next save situation.

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.

The Astros took a 2-1 lead into the ninth, but elected to have Wesley Wright start the inning against the left-handed Brandon Belt. After Belt singled, Lopez was called upon to get out of the inning, but he surrendered an RBI double to Joaquin Arias that tied the game and an RBI single to Hector Sanchez to put the Giants on top. With as few save chances as the Astros have been generating, it’s not an encouraging sign that Lopez has blown two of his last three opportunities.