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Astros-Diamondbacks Preview

Jun 13, 2009 - 6:16 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Houston (27-31) at Arizona (26-35), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Roy Oswalt is struggling to find consistency and coming off one of his worst performances of the season. A start against the Arizona Diamondbacks could be just what he needs to get on track.

With their lineup struggling to produce runs, the Houston Astros hope their ace can continue his dominance of the Diamondbacks in the middle game of this series Saturday.

Oswalt (2-3, 4.66 ERA) battled through six innings last Saturday, giving up six runs and nine hits on 105 pitches in a 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh. That outing came five days after he yielded one run and six hits with a season-high eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 4-1 win over Colorado.

"I pitched myself into that trouble," Oswalt said of allowing three runs in both the second and third against the Pirates. "That was probably the most out of place I've ever felt on the mound during the second and third innings. I couldn't throw the ball anywhere I wanted to. I was scared to throw a breaking ball."

Oswalt then saw his next scheduled start pushed back due to a wrist problem, according to the Astros' official Web site.

The three-time All-Star will try to overcome that injury by continuing his dominance of the Diamondbacks (27-35). He's 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA in nine career starts against them.

Oswalt may not get much help from the Astros' lineup, though, after it was two-hit in Friday's 2-1 loss at Arizona in a matchup of last-place clubs.

Houston (27-32) has scored six runs and is batting .169 in splitting its last four games after hitting .312 to win seven of the previous 10.

The Astros have struggled against the Diamondbacks, dropping 11 of the last 15 meetings - eight of nine at Chase Field.

Arizona will give the ball to Jon Garland (4-6, 5.61), who will attempt to avoid losing a career-high fifth consecutive start.

Since posting his last victory at Florida on May 19, the right-hander has a 7.59 ERA during his four-start skid. The slide includes a 10-6 defeat to Atlanta at home May 29, when he was pulled with two outs in the second inning after surrendering nine runs and nine hits.

Garland is 2-3 with an 8.71 ERA in six starts at Phoenix.

He lost on the road Monday, giving up six runs, seven hits and a season high-tying five walks in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-3 defeat to San Diego.

"A little erratic early," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said. "He settled in fine. He was battling his mechanics a little bit."

Garland is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts against the Astros but hasn't faced them since June 9, 2007, while pitching for the Chicago White Sox.

Astros closer Jose Valverde is expected to be activated from the disabled list after being sidelined with a right calf strain since April 26. The club plans to use the right-hander in one non-save situation before he returns to the closer role, which has been occupied by LaTroy Hawkins.

Valverde, who played his first five seasons with Arizona before being traded to Houston after the 2007 season, led the NL with 44 saves last year.