HOUSTON — Astros slugger Lance Berkman has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf.

Berkman has missed five starts with the injury, but the Astros had hoped he would heal quickly and could avoid a stint on the DL.

He didn’t start Wednesday night but got a pinch single in the seventh inning of Houston’s 4-3 win over St. Louis, which moved the Astros within a game of the NL-Central leading Cardinals.

Berkman had an MRI exam and met with Dr. David Lintner on Tuesday, and had expected to return on Friday when the Astros open a three-gam...

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