Sipp was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right calf soreness.

EDGE Analysis

Sipp allowed six runs over his last 1.1 innings pitched, so this calf injury could help explain his recent struggles. The lefty owns an abysmal 6.47 ERA through 32 innings this season, so he could see a lesser role upon his return from the DL given the Astros' recent acquisition of Francisco Liriano.

Sipp (0-1) allowed two home runs in the 10th inning of Monday's 9-7 loss to the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

In what was a back-and-forth game with several lead changes, manager A.J. Hinch expended several relievers by the time Sipp got the call in extra innings. The left-hander surrendered homers to the first two batters he faced, underscoring a potential need for the Astros heading toward the July 31 trade deadline. Sipp, the primary left-hander out of the pen, has a 4.45 ERA over 28.1 innings and is rarely used in high-leverage spots.

Sipp has an ERA of 4.10 over 26.1 innings this season, racking up 26 strikeouts and 18 hits.

EDGE Analysis

The lefty reliever for the Astros has been limited to low leverage situations this season as more established relievers get the bulk of the heavy work. His WHIP sits at 1.06, lower than expected for a pitcher with an ERA above 4.00, which suggests that an ERA decrease might be on the way for the reliever.

Sipp allowed two runs on three hits over one inning in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to Kansas City.

EDGE Analysis

Sipp was part of a bullpen effort to cover for Dallas Keuchel who was a late scratch Wednesday. He came on in the third inning after fellow reliever Dayan Diaz lasted 2.2 innings as the game's starter. Sipp's been used mostly in low-leverage situations, and they don't get much lower than a bullpen start. The left-hander has a 4.50 ERA over 19 appearances, spanning 16 innings.

Sipp pitched the final 2.2 innings of Tuesday's 12-2 win over Miami.

EDGE Analysis

Tuesday was another low-leverage spot for Sipp who entered the game with the Astros leading by nine runs. None of his 12 appearances have come in what one might call a high-leverage situation. That's because he hasn't been terribly effective getting batters out. Entering Tuesday's game, the left-hander had allowed seven hits and seven walks over eight innings.

Sipp worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless inning in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Sipp's appearance Saturday was the first time he pitched in a week. The veteran left-hander has pitched in middle relief and when the Astros were losing. That indicates manager A.J. Hinch doesn't quite have the level of confidence in Sipp as he does in other relievers. One of Sipp's six appearances this season has been clean. He's allowed just one earned run despite giving up four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings.

Sipp allowed three runs on two hits and a walk over a third of an inning in Friday's exhibition game against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

This was the third time in eight outings that Sipp has been knocked around. The left-hander finishes up with an 8.10 ERA, having allowed 11 hits and seven walks over 6.2 innings. This comes on the heels of the worst season of his career in 2016 and leaves the Astros with some questions in the bullpen. Sipp is the club's lone lefty reliever, so if his struggles continue, manager A.J. Hinch will have to find a right-handed reliever who can pitch effectively against left-handed hitters.

Sipp is scheduled to pitch Monday after missing his last two starts with back stiffness, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The injury was never thought to be anything serious, but Sipp is the only southpaw in the Astros' bullpen to start the season, so the team obviously handled him with extra precaution. He'll look to get things on track before the season opens up in a week, as the 33-year-old has struggled to a 5.40 ERA and 2.60 WHIP in five innings this spring.

Sipp (back) was feeling better Sunday and could pitch in Monday's game against the Cardinals, Brian McTaggart of the Astros' official site reports. The left-handed reliever was scratched from a scheduled appearance Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Sipp's condition was described as nothing more than "standard, end-of-camp back stiffness," per manager A.J. Hinch. Sipp, in the second year of a three-year, $18 mllion contract, is the only lefty in the pen to start the season, so he's a valuable piece.

Sipp didn't pitch Saturday because of back stiffness, Brian McTaggart of the Astros' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager A.J. Hinch said the stiffness developed Friday. The left-handed Sipp's been roughed up this spring, giving up eight hits and five walks in five innings.