BOSTON -- Veteran catcher Jason Castro returned to the Astros on Friday after missing three games following the birth of his first child, and that meant Max Stassi was sent back to Triple-A Fresno. Stassi figures to be back in the big leagues at some point soon, but the club wants him to get as many at-bats as possible because he missed considerable time following left hand surgery towards the end of Spring Training.
For now, the Astros are sticking with Erik Kratz -- signed at the end of camp when Stassi got hurt -- as their backup catcher, while Evan Gattis continues to get reps behind the plate at Double-A Corpus Christi.