Nelson Figueroa has been awarded the final spot in the Astros' season-opening starting rotation.

Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, J.A. Happ and Bud Norris will fill out the top of the rotation. Figueroa locked up the job on Sunday by allowing only one earned run in five innings against the Braves. He has a 3.86 ERA over 14 total innings this spring.

Nelson Figueroa pitched five innings and allowed three runs -- one earned -- Sunday against the Braves.

Figueroa would be the safe choice to serve as the Astros' fifth starter over top prospect Jordan Lyles and lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith. There's no real upside here, but he'll probably keep the Astros in games and he can always be returned to a relief role later once Lyles proves he's ready.

Astros manager Brad Mills considers Sunday a key day in the competition for the No. 5 starter job, as Nelson Figueroa, Ryan Rowland-Smith and Jordan Lyles will all pitch.

Figueroa and Rowland-Smith will get the starts in the split-squad games, while Lyles and also Lance Pendleton and Aneury Rodriguez will pitch in relief. Rowland-Smith entered camp as the likely favorite for the No. 5 gig, but as the Houston Chronicle notes, Figueroa "has been on what most resembles a starter's track all spring," which may indicate he's the favorite. He's also out-pitched Rowland-Smith, though neither have pitched particularly well. Lyles has had the best spring of anyone, but the 'Stros might decide that it's best to get him more innings at Triple-A.

Nelson Figueroa allowed one run in three innings Tuesday as the Astros beat the Mets.

The Astros are giving Figueroa a chance to turn himself into a full-time starter this spring and he has pitched pretty well thus far. If the right-hander can keep it up, he may open the 2011 season as Houston's No. 5 guy in the rotation. He walked a batter and struck out one on Tuesday.

Nelson Figueroa won for the Astros on Thursday after turning in two scoreless innings against the Marlins.

Figueroa is competing with Ryan Rowland-Smith and top prospect Jordan Lyles for the opening in Houston's rotation. Ideally, Rowland-Smith would win it, allowing Figueroa to start off in middle relief and Lyles to get some Triple-A experience. Figueroa, though, does have a good case after going 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 11 starts and 20 relief appearances last year.

The Astros and RHP Nelson Figueroa avoided arbitration Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year, $900,000 contract.

The deal also includes performance-based incentives. Figueroa, 36, posted a solid 3.29 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 93 innings in 2010 while working both as a starter and reliever. He was eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason, but the right-hander decided to ink a deal quickly.

Astros general manager Ed Wade said Thursday that he would like Nelson Figueroa to return next season.

"I don't see any reason why we would walk past a guy like that," said Wade. "If at the end of the day he's our fifth starter, I don't have any problem with that being the case." Figueroa, 36, went 4-3 with a 3.54 ERA in nine starts and eight relief appearances with the Astros this season. He'll be arbitration-eligible for the first time in his career this winter.

Nelson Figueroa pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings to beat the Reds on Wednesday night.

The Reds rested every single one of his starting position players tonight, so Figueroa's start is not as impressive as it looks. The same could probably be said for Figueroa's season. He started off in Philadelphia as a reliever before being claimed off waivers by the Astros. He made nine decent starts but isn't a threat to hit the fantasy radar in 2011 despite a 3.52 season ERA.

Nelson Figueroa allowed three runs over five innings in a win over the Cubs on Tuesday night.

Figueroa scattered six hits while striking out five and walking three. Believe it or not, this was the first time he had allowed more than two runs in a start this season. He had a 2.25 ERA over five starts coming into tonight's game. Figueroa has benefited from a low batting average on balls in play, so he's not quite this good, but he's still worth a look in NL-only formats. He'll get the Dodgers this weekend.

Nelson Figueroa was scratched from Saturday's start against the Pirates due to migrane-like symptoms.

An arteriogram came back normal, so he'll be pushed back to start against the Mets next Tuesday. Bud Norris will start in his place Saturday.

Nelson Figueroa is scheduled to start on Saturday against the Pirates.

Figueroa has been lobbying for a shot at the starting rotation since the Astros claimed him off waivers from the Phillies in late July. And it's not like Houston has anything to lose. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA, 13 strikeouts and no walks in eight relief appearances for his new team.

Astros claimed RHP Nelson Figueroa off waivers from the Phillies.

Figueroa was designated for assignment by the Phillies last week. The 36-year-old right-hander has a 3.46 ERA in one start and 12 relief appearances this season. The Astros haven't indicated how they will use him, but he could be a solution in the starting rotation until Brian Moehler is ready to go.

Phillies designated RHP Nelson Figueroa for assignment.

It's the third time that Figueroa has been DFA'd this season. He passed through waivers last time the Phillies gave him the boot but some other team should take a chance this time around. After all, he had a 3.46 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 26 innings for Philadelphia this year.

Phillies recalled RHP Nelson Figueroa from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Figueroa posted a 4.82 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 18 2/3 innings before being designated for assignment by the club earlier this month. He was eventually outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He'll contribute in middle relief.

Phillies outrighted RHP Nelson Figueroa to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Figueroa cleared waivers and accepted a minor league assignment. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 4.82 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 18 2/3 innings with the big club before being designated for assignment on Monday.

Phillies designated RHP Nelson Figueroa for assignment.

The 36-year-old right-hander has now been DFA'd twice this season -- first by the Mets, and now by the Phillies. He had to be pushed off Philly's 25-man roster so that they could clear room for Brad Lidge, who was activated from the disabled list in a corresponding move. Figueroa had a 4.82 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings for the Phillies.

Nelson Figueroa is scheduled to start for the Phillies on Saturday evening in place of J.A. Happ, who was placed on the disabled list Thursday.

Figueroa, claimed off waivers at the start of the season from the Mets, will face the Diamondbacks Saturday in his first start in a Philadelphia uniform. He boasts a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through seven-plus innings of relief thus far and is a decent emergency option for NL-only leaguers.

Nelson Figueroa was called up from the minors on Thursday April 8.

Phillies claimed RHP Nelson Figueroa off waivers from the Mets.

Figueroa, who turns 36 in May, was designated for assignment by the Mets over the weekend. With the injury to Joe Blanton, Figueroa will function as insurance for a shaky back end of the rotation that currently includes the 47-year-old Jaime Moyer and Kyle Kendrick.

A source tells Jayson Stark of ESPN.com that the Phillies are interested in right-hander Nelson Figueroa, who was designated for assignment by the Mets over the weekend.

His waivers expire on Wednesday, according to Stark. Figueroa, who turns 36 in May, is expected to seek an opportunity in Japan, but could reconsider if another MLB team is willing to give him a shot. Figgy previously pitched for the pitched for the Phillies in 2001. The team would like to build some depth with Joe Blanton on the disabled list and 47-year-old Jamie Moyer currently in the rotation.