During his two-month stint as the Astros closer, Dan Wheeler knew this job could very well be temporary. After all, if Brad Lidge was to get back on track at any point in the season, manager Phil Garner was fully willing to put him back in the closer's role. On Friday, Garner pulled aside Wheeler and Lidge as the Astros began batting practice and told them he was ready to transition Lidge back to the ninth inning. Wheeler will pitch the eighth, and Chad Qualls the seventh. Wheeler, whose friendship with Lidge remained strong throughout the last two months, graciously accepted the news. "To be honest, I don't think it's something where I lost a job, which I did," Wheeler said. "I just think Brad earned it back. Brad has been throwing the ball great. Phil said from the get-go this could happen."