PHILADELPHIA -- With Monday's off-day, the Phillies switched Adam Eaton and Kyle Kendrick in the starting rotation.

While the change means Kendrick, who will pitch on Wednesday, will have seven days between starts, it keeps Eaton on his regular day to pitch in Tuesday's opener against the Astros. Looking beyond that, it lines him up to face the Mets next Sunday night, on ESPN's nationally televised broadcast. Eaton is 5-0 with a 2.90 ERA in eight career starts against New York.

"He's been throwing the ball real well," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "He deserves to throw on his fifth day."

After a tough 2007 season marred by back and shoulder issues, then a recurrence of those back issues in Spring Training, Eaton began this year healthy. He attributes it to the help of Ken Roll, an athletic trainer for the Mariners.

Aided by Phillies head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan, Roll put Eaton through extensive strengthening exercises.

"I'm waiting for that first-win ball to send it to him," Eaton said. "We did a lot of work this offseason, and he was a big reason why I feel this way."

Pitching matchup
PHI: RHP Adam Eaton (0-0, 3.95 ERA)
The right-hander has turned in two quality starts for the Phillies, rebounding nicely from a rough 2007. Eaton held the Mets to three runs in six innings on Thursday, before New York went on to win in 12 innings. Manager Charlie Manuel said that he has been impressed by Eaton's aggressiveness in the strike zone. In six career starts against Houston, Eaton is 3-1 with a 4.42 ERA.

HOU: RHP Shawn Chacon (0-0, 3.75 ERA)
Chacon turned in a quality start Tuesday, but didn't factor in the decision. He yielded three runs in six innings in a loss to St. Louis. He had control issues early, throwing more than 30 pitches in a second inning during which he walked three. Chacon said he didn't think he'd go deep in the game after throwing so many pitches early. Chacon pitched in three games against the Phillies last year, allowing four runs over 2 2/3 innings. In his career, Chacon is 1-2 with four saves and a 5.87 ERA over 10 games vs. the Phils.

Tidbits
Ed Wade, dismissed by the Phillies after the 2005 season, returns to Philadelphia as the general manager of the Astros. Many current players, including Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels and Brett Myers, were drafted and developed under Wade's watch in Philadelphia.

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Up next
• Wednesday: Phillies (Kyle Kendrick, 1-1, 6.14) vs. Astros (Roy Oswalt, 0-3, 9.00), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Phillies (Brett Myers, 1-1, 5.00) vs. Astros (Brandon Backe, 1-1, 2.25), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Phillies (Cole Hamels, 2-1, 0.82) vs. Mets (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET