Jesse Crain (biceps, shoulder) suffered a calf strain and will undergo an MRI. Crain was already expected to miss the start of the season while he works his way back from biceps tendon surgery, but now he has another hurdle in his way. We'll have a better idea of the severity and the timetable following the MRI.

Jesse Crain (biceps, shoulder) hopes to be ready to pitch in games sometime in April. Crain, who had surgery on his biceps tendon in October, took the day off Monday after throwing a baseball off flat ground from 60 feet on Saturday and Sunday. While he's making progress, he's still likely a couple of weeks away from throwing off a mound.

Jesse Crain (biceps, shoulder) began a throwing program on Monday. Crain said it went "as planned." The veteran reliever is still a few weeks away from throwing off a mound and doesn't expect to be ready for the start of the season. Crain missed the final three months of last season due to shoulder issues and then underwent biceps surgery in October.

Jesse Crain (biceps, shoulder) said Saturday he's unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season. "That would be a huge bonus if I was ready (for the start of the season)," Crain told the Houston Chronicle. "I'm not planning on that. I would be surprised if I was ready by then." Crain will begin playing catch on Monday and hopes to start throwing off a mound within the next few weeks. The right-hander said a best-case scenario would be throwing in a few spring training games and only missing a few weeks of the regular season. Even assuming he returns in mid-April, the 32-year-old remains the best closer option for the Astros and should regain the job sooner than later after returning.

Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports that Jesse Crain (biceps, shoulder) is expected to begin throwing on Monday. The 32-year-old was brilliant in 36 2/3 innings with the White Sox before the injuries cut short his season, compiling a 0.74 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 46/11 K/BB ratio. For those speculating on saves in the later rounds of mixed league drafts, Crain has to be considered the favorite to fill the role as long as he's healthy to begin the season.

Jesse Crain (biceps, shoulder) won't start throwing for another 10 days. "We have a plan and a certain schedule for that and so far all the rehab has been going well," Crain said on Saturday. "We just want to make sure that I'm all the way healthy and strong before we get to that next step because you can always speed it up on the back end." Crain, who signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Astros last month, didn't pitch during the second half last year due to a right shoulder strain and had surgery in October to fix biceps inflammation. He posted a 0.74 ERA in 38 games with the White Sox last season. Crain, 32, is the favorite for saves in Houston if he's healthy.

Jesse Crain (biceps, shoulder) expects to start throwing in a couple of weeks. Crain, who signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Astros last month, didn't pitch during the second half last year due to a right shoulder strain and had surgery in October to fix biceps inflammation. If healthy, he could get a chance out of the closer role in 2014.

Astros signed RHP Jesse Crain to a one-year contract. No word yet on the terms involved. Crain posted a 0.74 ERA over 38 appearances in 2013, but didn't pitch after June 29 due to a right shoulder strain. If healthy, he figures to pitch in the late innings for the Astros in 2014 and could be spun for a prospect around the trade deadline.

Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com reports that the Cubs "have expressed some interest" in Jesse Crain. Levine notes that the Cubs, along with many other clubs, are checking on Crain's medicals. The veteran reliever missed the final three months of last season due to shoulder issues but put up a microscopic 0.74 ERA before going on the DL. If Crain checks out physically, he could prove to be a bargain for someone.

According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, Jesse Crain remains an option for the Rockies. Depending on his health, Crain could be one of the most attractive relief pitchers on the free agent market. Renck speculates that Crain could opt to sign later in the offseason, after he's able to have a throwing session to prove he's ready and able to contribute.