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Astros-Pirates Preview

Jul 15, 2010 - 5:18 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Houston (36-53) at Pittsburgh (30-58), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Houston Astros were the worst team in the NL at the end of May, but since then, the Pittsburgh Pirates have had that title all to themselves.

The Pirates' dreadful past two months have them on pace for their most losses since 1952, but they'll hope to start the second half with some momentum when they open a 10-game homestand Friday night against the Astros.

Houston (36-53) was entrenched in the NL Central cellar after going 17-34 through May 31, but it's gone 19-19 since then as Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman have bounced back from poor starts.

The Pirates' 21-31 start, on the other hand, has turned far worse despite the June call-up of top prospects Brad Lincoln, Jose Tabata and Pedro Alvarez. Pittsburgh (30-58) is 9-27 since June 1, and after being swept in consecutive road series heading into the All-Star break, the team is on pace for 107 losses, its most since a 42-112 finish in 1952.

"It's awful," reliever Joel Hanrahan said. "This definitely isn't what we expected coming out of spring training. We need to turn it around in the second half and start playing together."

Turning it around against the Astros could be a tall order. Pittsburgh has lost nine consecutive series to Houston, getting outscored 33-13 in two three-game sweeps at Minute Maid Park this season.

Brett Myers (6-6, 3.41 ERA) is a good candidate to help keep the Astros perfect versus the Pirates in 2010. The right-hander is the only pitcher in the majors to last six innings in every start this season, extending his club record to 18 straight as he beat St. Louis on Saturday by giving up a run and five hits over eight innings in a 4-1 win.

"He came here with a reputation of being an innings eater and I think now he's gone and almost taken it to another level," manager Brad Mills said of Myers. "The way he's gone about it is very special."

Myers is 0-3 with a 4.76 ERA in three starts at PNC Park, and road struggles are nothing new to him. He's 5-0 with a 2.48 ERA at Minute Maid Park, but 1-6 with a 4.37 ERA away from home.

The Pirates welcome Zach Duke (3-8, 5.49) back to the rotation for the first time since June 16, hoping his strained left elbow has fully recovered. The left-hander was 0-4 with an 8.18 ERA in his last four starts before going on the disabled list, but he surrendered two runs over seven innings in two rehab starts with Double-A Altoona.

"The main thing is that he's healthy, and if he pitches like he's capable of pitching, it'll be very good to have him back," manager John Russell told the Pirates' official website.

Duke is 2-4 with a 3.26 ERA in nine starts against the Astros, throwing a four-hitter the last time he faced them, a 7-0 home win April 13, 2009.

Berkman is 6 for 24 against Duke, but he's enjoyed seeing the rest of the Pirates' staff recently. The five-time All-Star has homered in four consecutive games against Pittsburgh and has hit .394 (13 for 33) with seven homers in the last 10 meetings.

Lee is 8 for 20 with two homers and seven RBIs in five games versus the Pirates this season. He's hitting .348 in his last six games overall, and Berkman is at .435 with five homers in his past seven.