Peacock impresses Porter in live batting practice

Astros pitchers have one more day of live batting practice Wednesday before they’ll appear in Grapefruit League games, beginning with Saturday’s opener against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla.

Astros manager Bo Porter singled out right-hander Brad Peacock, acquired in a trade with Oakland earlier this month, as throwing the ball well.

“It was down in the zone,” he said. “Those guys [the group that pitched Tuesday] had their last live day, so they mixed in their breaking stuff and his breaking ball was good, change-up was good and his fastball was explosive with late life. It was good to see.”

Porter said Tuesday the club will use a pitching machine that throws nothing but curveballs in Thursday’s intrasquad game.

“As you take batting practice and even through live [BP], these guys haven’t taken too many swings off of breaking balls,” Porter said. “It’s one of those things that when you get to a game setting and you have the backdrop and the space and the field and all the cages and stuff like that removed, it’s always a good drill.”

The Astros will hold a draft Wednesday morning to pick teams for the intrasquad game, which will be held inside Osceola County Stadium and last about five or six innings. The teams will be called Team Everett and Team Ensberg, with Minor League instructors Morgan Ensberg and Adam Everett serving as coaches.

Here is the day in pictures:

Bo Porter and Roger Clemens.

Bo Porter demonstrates a cut-off throw.

Matt Dominguez prepares to catch a ball.

Tyler Greene is all smiles after “‘Stros Win!”

Rudy Owens hands out high fives.

Hitting coach John Mallee talks to his guys.

Carlos Pena mixes in an energy bar.

Justin Maxwell adjusts his socks.

Carlos Pena and bench coach Eduardo Perez talk.

Bud Norris throws live batting practice.

Roger Clemens and Doug Brocail talk to Brett Oberholtzer.

Dave Clark stands over a group of players changing shoes.

Jason Castro prepares to take his cuts.