Houston @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2015 ) Houston 1, San Francisco 3

The road has been unkind to the Houston Astros, who have dropped 17 of their last 20 games away from Minute Maid Park. Despite their road woes, the Astros hold a one-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West heading into Wednesday’s series finale against the host San Francisco Giants, who sit 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

The Giants opened the brief two-game set Tuesday with a 3-1 victory as first baseman Brandon Belt homered twice, giving him seven home runs in his last 10 games. Second baseman Joe Panik (back) will not be activated from the disabled list when eligible later this week, and the Giants could look to acquire Philadelphia veteran Chase Utley if the injury lingers much longer. Houston is wrapping up a dismal nine-game road trip that began with three straight losses to the Rangers before dropping three of four in Oakland. Catcher Jason Castro, who is 3-for-20 on the trip, will likely return to the lineup Wednesday after being rested Tuesday.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Scott Feldman (4-5, 4.46 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Heston (11-6, 3.48)

Feldman took a no-decision against Oakland on Thursday after yielding two runs while throwing 113 pitches over six innings. The 32-year-old is 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts since coming off the disabled list. Hunter Pence is 5-for-11 against Feldman, who is 0-4 with a 5.19 ERA in five career games (three starts) against San Francisco.

Heston leads all major league rookies in wins, but has struggled in his last two starts while allowing eight runs on 12 hits over 8 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old was rocked for five runs in four innings in a loss to the Cubs on Thursday. Heston recorded his first career complete game in his only start against Houston on May 12, when he struck out 10 and held the Astros to one run on two hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants placed OF Angel Pagan (right patella tendinitis) on the disabled list and recalled OF Juan Perez from Triple-A Sacramento.

2. Houston is 52-9 when scoring four or more runs.

3. San Francisco OF Nori Aoki (head) passed a concussion test and is expected to start Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s contest.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Giants 4