HOUSTON -- Astros general manager Ed Wade announced Thursday night that right-handers Lucas Harrell and Jordan Lyles, infielders Chris Johnson and Brett Wallace, outfielder J.B. Shuck, as well as catcher J.R. Towles, will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City as the team's September call-ups.
They are expected to report to the team on Friday and be in uniform for the series opener against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Also, the Astros will activate reliever Enerio Del Rosario from the 15-day disabled list nearly a month after he suffered a right shoulder strain.
Del Rosario made four relief appearances on a minor league rehab assignment, posting a 2.25 ERA over four combined innings between the Gulf Coast League Astros (one game) and Oklahoma City (three games).
The 25-year-old Del Rosario has compiled an 0-2 record with a 4.50 ERA over 46 innings in 44 relief appearances for the Astros this season.
Harrell will get the starting nod for Houston on Friday in place of ace Brett Myers, who temporarily left the team, as he and his wife, Kim, welcomed their fourth child Thursday -- son Kace Ryan Myers -- who weighed in at eight pounds and four ounces.
He was claimed off waivers by Houston on July 8 after making three relief appearances with the Chicago White Sox earlier this season.
The 26-year-old Harrell posted a 12-5 record with a 2.63 ERA over 126 2/3 innings in 22 games (21 starts) at the Triple-A level.
This includes an impressive 5-2 mark with a 1.72 ERA over 52 1/3 innings in nine starts for Oklahoma City after joining the Astros organization.
Harrell is 1-0 with a 5.28 ERA over 29 innings over 11 career games (three starts) at the major league level -- all with the White Sox.
Lyles spent nearly three months in the Astros' rotation this season after making his major league debut on May 31 at Wrigley Field.
The 20-year-old Lyles entered the 2011 season rated as the organization's top prospect and posted a 2-7 record with a 5.02 ERA in 15 starts prior to being optioned to Oklahoma City on Aug. 21 in order for Houston to begin monitoring his innings.
Overall, he's tossed a combined 152 innings between the Astros and Oklahoma City, going 3-3 with a 3.61 ERA for the RedHawks.
Lyles will pitch out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season.
Johnson, the Astros' starting third baseman for the majority of this season, returns to Houston after spending the last month at Triple-A.
He hit .245 with six homers and 36 RBI in 92 games before being optioned to Oklahoma City, where the 26-year-old third baseman hit a respectable .272 with four homers and 15 RBI in 21 games.
Wallace, who has spent the majority of 2011 as the Astros' starting first baseman, returns to Houston after hitting .356 with a home run, 24 RBI and 10 doubles while compiling an impressive .437 on-base percentage over the last month at Oklahoma City.
The 25-year-old Wallace hit .268 with four homers, 26 RBI and 22 doubles in 101 games for the Astros prior to being optioned.
Shuck spent most of August with the Astros, hitting .250 in 16 games before being optioned back to Oklahoma City on Aug. 24.
The 24-year-old Shuck, a 2011 PCL All-Star, hit .297 with 30 RBI and a .398 on-base percentage in 108 games at Triple-A.
Towles will join the roster as the Astros' third catcher.
The 27-year-old former top prospect began the season with Houston, splitting the catching duties with veteran Humberto Quintero.
However, Towles was optioned to Oklahoma City on July 6 after hitting .180 with three homers and 10 RBI in 44 games for Houston.
He hit .276 with three homers, 11 RBI, four doubles and 19 runs scored over 105 at-bats in 35 games during his stint at Triple-A.
All seven players were already on the Astros' 40-man roster, which currently stands at 39, following the San Diego Padres claiming reliever Jeff Fulchino off outright waivers Thursday afternoon.
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