Astros Video

Manzella's quick glove

Manzella's two-run single

Marlins Video

Sanchez strikes out seven

Sanchez's seven strikeouts

How often Manzella -- the Opening Day shortstop -- is in the lineup, however, will remain to be seen.

Manzella was the Astros' starting shortstop for the first half of the season until a fractured left index finger sidelined him on June 22. In July, the Astros acquired Angel Sanchez to replace Manzella, who took longer than expected to recover. Sanchez is hitting .291 in 36 games but hasn't stood out defensively as much as Manzella, who was hitting .212 before his injury.

Beginning with a three-game weekend series against Florida, Astros manager Brad Mills will try to split up time between his two shortstops.

"I think Angel has earned a shot to play there a little bit," Mills said. "Tommy's going to play some. Do I know exactly how much? I haven't looked at all the pitching matchups yet to see, and that's going to have a lot to do with it as well. We'll kind of see how that goes forward."

Neither hitter has faced Florida's Anibal Sanchez (9-8, 3.31 ERA), who will get the start Friday for the Marlins. In three career outings against the Astros, Sanchez has sparkled, going 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA.

Houston lefty J.A. Happ (2-1, 4.66) will oppose Sanchez, who will be going for his 10th win, a total he hasn't achieved since his 2006 rookie season.

Astros: Recent addition starts off series
Happ will be making his fifth start for Houston since coming over in the Roy Oswalt trade. He earned his second win as an Astro in his last outing, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings. Happ has appeared in five games -- two starts -- against Florida in his career, holding a 5.51 ERA.

Marlins: Ross could be about to turn corner
After going 43 at-bats without an extra-base hit, Cody Ross has hit a double in each of his last two games. Ross' fifth-inning double on Wednesday broke an 0-for-16 streak, and, although Ross went 1-for-5 on Thursday, Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said he likes the way the center fielder has looked at the plate recently.

"I think he was jumping at the plate. What that means is he was pushing off his back leg, and that makes his swing a little bit longer," Rodriguez said. "He's been working with hitting coach John Mallee. On Wednesday night he took four or five quality at-bats, and hopefully that can be a start for Cody, because he can help us and we need him."

Worth noting
The Marlins are 23-12 against left-handed starters. ... Houston's 3-2 victory over the Mets on Thursday was its ninth straight come-from-behind win.