HOUSTON (Ticker) -- So far, nothing has stopped the Houston Astros from compiling the best record in the National League. An injury to third baseman Ken Caminiti will put them to the test. Caminiti was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a strained right calf. The former Gold Glover is hitting .292 with two homers and 17 RBI in 36 games with a .373 on-base percentage and five stolen bases in six attempts. Caminiti, the 1996 National League Most Valuable Player, went to the World Series with the San Diego Padres last season and spurned a three-year, $21 million offer from the Detroit Tigers before opting for a two-year deal with the Astros. Batting in the middle of the order, Caminiti, 36, has provided protection for Jeff Bagwell, who is having another huge season, in the absence of Moises Alou. With the switch-hitting Caminiti on the DL, Jack Howell, Bill Spiers and Russ Johnson should compete for time at third base. Caminiti is back in Houston four years after the Astros traded him to the Padres as part of a blockbuster 12-player deal. He never moved from the Houston suburb of Richmond, Texas and expressed a willingness to take less money to rejoin the Astros. Caminiti starred for the Padres, helping them win a pair of National League West championships. In 1996, he became only the fourth unanimous selection as NL MVP after hitting .326 and posting career highs with 40 home runs and 130 RBI. His previous two seasons have been plagued by injuries, however. Caminiti missed 31 games in 1998 as his average dipped 38 points to .252. But he was second on the Padres with 29 home runs and 82 RBI. Caminiti broke into the majors with the Astros in 1987 and spent six full seasons in Houston. In the strike-shortened 1994 campaign, he hit .283 with 18 homers and 75 RBI, securing his first of three All-Star berths. But the Astros shipped him with Steve Finley, Andujar Cedeno, Roberto Petagine, Brian Williams and Sean Fesh to San Diego on December 28th, 1994 for Bell, Phil Plantier, Ricky Gutierrez, Craig Shipley, Doug Brocail and Pedro Martinez. To take his spot on the roster, the Astros recalled first baseman Daryle Ward from Triple-A New Orleans. In 42 games for the Zephyrs, Ward was hitting .339 with 15 homers and 41 RBI.  