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Pirates-Astros Preview

Apr 24, 2010 - 5:03 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Pittsburgh (7-8) at Houston (5-10), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Houston Astros are still in last place in the NL Central after their dreadful start, but they'll have some company in the basement if they can win their next one.

The Astros seek their seventh victory in nine games Saturday night when they host the struggling Pirates, who are trying to avoid falling into a last-place tie with a fifth straight loss.

Houston no longer resembles the team that opened with eight consecutive defeats - one shy of the franchise record. The Astros have won six of eight since and are one-half game back of Chicago and Cincinnati, and one behind Pittsburgh for last place in the division.

Houston (6-10) has managed to get things turned around despite a prolonged slump from Carlos Lee, but the slugger showed signs of breaking out of his funk in Friday's 4-3 win over the Pirates (7-9). Lee hit a two-run double in the series opener after having one double and one RBI in his first 15 games.

"That's the way it goes, you know," he told the Astros' official website. "I've hit some balls hard and they've been outs, so I guess they all even out. Not a better moment to get one."

Lee is batting .359 with 15 RBIs in 10 home games against the Pirates since the start of last season.

Wandy Rodriguez (0-2, 4.67 ERA) has also gotten off to a slow start, but like Lee, a home game against Pittsburgh might help him get on track.

After leading the Astros with a career-high 14 wins last season, Rodriguez is still in search of his first victory. He hasn't pitched that poorly, allowing four runs or fewer in all three starts, but he's received one run of support. Against Chicago on Sunday, the left-hander allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings in a 3-2, 10-inning win.

Rodriguez has had much better luck against the Pirates at home, going 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts with the Astros winning each time. In his lone outing against Pittsburgh last season at Minute Maid Park, Rodriguez threw a five-hitter in a 5-0 victory July 8.

Rodriguez could also benefit from facing a Pirates team that is struggling at the plate and 0-8 when scoring three runs or fewer.

Pittsburgh was limited to four hits Friday and has scored four runs while batting .173 during its skid. Leadoff hitter Aki Iwamura is 1 for 15 with one walk in the last four.

Manager John Russell has yet to make an official announcement on who will be Pittsburgh's starting pitcher Saturday, but Chris Jakubauskas is expected to get the nod.

Jakubauskas has been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and Brian Burres was sent to the minors after allowing eight runs in eight innings.

Jakubauskas lost both of his starts in the minors, allowing five runs and 10 hits in 10 innings. As a rookie for Seattle last season, the 31-year-old right-hander went 2-5 with a 6.64 ERA in eight starts.