UPDATE: (3/1) 12:42AM (EST) - According to mlb.com, Berkman has been cleared by the medical staff to play in a grapefruit league game vs. the Nationals. He has felt good in recent days, and will try to give it a go.

UPDATE: (2/27) 11:01am (EST) - According to the Houston Chronicle, Berkman said some of the soreness has gotton better. He was able to hit 40-50 balls off of a tee left-handed on Tuesday, and could be in the lineup as early as Friday for the Astros’ Grapefruit League opener.

UPDATE: (2/25) 9:35pm (EST) - As per Alyson Footer at MLB.com, Berkman said the pain he is feeling from his oblique strain (left side) is the most intense he has ever had. He is still taking batting practice from the right side though.

Feb 24, 1:21pm (EST) - According to the Houston Chronicle, Houston Astros’ outfielder Lance Berkman has a strained oblique on his left side that has limited his batting practice. Berkman, who is a switch hitter, hits much better from the left-side of the dish.

The strain is not believed to be serious, but oblique injuries tend to have a lingering effect. Berkman will most likely sit out the first week or two of spring training to give the oblique a rest, and not injury himself further. Berkman, along with Miguel Tejada and Carlos Lee, figure to form a nice “thumping” middle of the Houston batting order in 2008.

Filed under: Houston Astros