Pittsburgh @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2011 ) Pittsburgh 7, Houston 5
THE STORY: The Houston Astros look to build on some rare momentum when they return home Monday night to begin a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Astros rallied for an 11-inning road victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, riding an RBI single by Matt Downs to the win. Pittsburgh lost three of four games at St. Louis over the weekend.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh); Fox Sports, Dish 447/9517 & DirecTV 678 (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ross Ohlendorf (0-1, 7.24 ERA) vs. Astros LH Wandy Rodriguez (9-9, 3.41 ERA)
Ohlendorf returned to the majors for the first time since April and took the loss in last Tuesday's start against the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed seven runs - four earned - on 11 hits in five innings, but all of those runs came in one inning against the hottest team in baseball. Ohlendorf has pitched more games (10) in his career against Houston than any other club, but he is 0-6 with a 6.17 ERA in those contests.
Rodriguez has been quite erratic in August, sandwiching two scoreless outings with three starts that saw him allow at least five runs in each contest. In 16 career starts against the Pirates, Rodriguez is 7-5 with a 4.23 ERA. He allowed nine runs in 11 2/3 innings over two July starts against Pittsburgh after winning there May 6.
ABOUT THE PIRATES (62-71): Pittsburgh has lost 24 of 33 games since July 25, when it was locked in a three-way tie atop the National League Central. The Pirates have had trouble generating offense for much of the year, ranking near the bottom of the league in runs scored (513), batting average (.245), home runs (88), on-base percentage (.310) and slugging percentage (.363). Outfielder Andrew McCutchen leads the club with 18 homers and 78 RBIs.
ABOUT THE ASTROS (44-90): Houston was on the verge of climbing out of the NL Central basement back on June 2, sitting at 23-34 and riding a four-game win streak. The bottom fell out immediately thereafter, with the team winning just 21 of its last 87 games and selling off its top two players (outfielders Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence) just before the trade deadline. The Astros rank among the worst in baseball in nearly every major pitching category but are 10th in team batting average (.259).
FINAL PITCH: Houston's blown save on Sunday was its 22nd in 40 chances, easily the worst conversion rate in baseball.