HOUSTON -- The Astros will be without starting catcher Jason Castro for likely the next three games after he was placed on the paternity list Tuesday following the birth of his first child earlier in the day. Catcher Max Stassi was recalled from Triple-A Fresno.Stassi, 25, was reinstated from the

HOUSTON -- The Astros will be without starting catcher Jason Castro for likely the next three games after he was placed on the paternity list Tuesday following the birth of his first child earlier in the day. Catcher Max Stassi was recalled from Triple-A Fresno.

Stassi, 25, was reinstated from the disabled list Sunday after coming back from March wrist surgery and sent to Triple-A Fresno following a rehab stint at Double-A Corpus Christi. He hit .143 (2-for-14) in four games for the Grizzlies, and will make his first start for the Astros in Wednesday's series finale against the Indians.

"It feels good," Stassi said. "I'm excited to be back and contribute to the team and help out any way I can."

Castro's wife, Maris, gave birth around 3 a.m. CT in Houston to a son, Brady. Castro is the second Astros player to be placed on the paternity list this week. Left-hander Tony Sipp was placed on the list Friday for the birth of his daughter, Zoe Chanel.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said he expects Castro back no later than Friday, which would be the day he would be required to return following the end the 72-hour paternity list window.

Stassi, meanwhile, could be with the Astros long term if they determine he should be the backup catcher over Erik Kratz, whom they traded for shortly after Stassi underwent surgery in the spring to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand.

Stassi was in line to start the season as Castro's backup before the injury.

"He's comfortable up here," Hinch said. "He's been up here every September for a few years now. We're comfortable with him, he's comfortable with us. He caught our guys in the spring. It's nice to have him healthy. He didn't get as much time to get back into the flow of baseball activities as you'd normally like, in terms of the rehab assignment, but we had pressing needs here, and he's ready to help us."