Jed Lowrie won't play in any Grapefruit League games until Saturday, as Astros manager A.J. Hinch wants to ease his veterans into action this spring, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Lowrie won't play in any Grapefruit League games until Saturday, as Astros manager A.J. Hinch wants to ease his veterans into action this spring, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Analysis:

Lowrie signed a three-year deal with the Astros in December to serve as the team's stopgap starter at shortstop until top prospect Carlos Correa is ready for the big leagues. Correa isn't expected to make his debut until 2016 at the earliest, so Lowrie should get plenty of playing time in 2015 assuming he's healthy. Jonathan Villar will handle the shortstop duties and bat ninth for Houston's Grapefruit League opener against Philadelphia on Thursday.