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Dodgers-Astros Preview

Sep 9, 2010 - 7:10 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Los Angeles (69-71) at Houston (66-73), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Joe Torre isn't sure if he'll be back in 2011, but he's claimed responsibility for the Los Angeles Dodgers' difficult season. It might not get any better against the red-hot Houston Astros, either.

The Dodgers will try to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season when they face the Astros in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night.

Expected to compete for a third consecutive NL West title under Torre, the Dodgers (69-71) have been a disappointment and faded from the playoff race.

Los Angeles was swept in a three-game set by NL West-leading San Diego following a 4-0 loss Wednesday that dropped the club 11 games back in the division and wild-card races with 22 to play. The Dodgers head to Minute Maid Park hoping to avoid their fourth six-game skid this year.

"It's my responsibility, no question it's my responsibility," Torre told the team's official website. "I deal with it philosophically. I wish I could have found something that made a difference. That's my job. It wouldn't be fair to sit back and say this guy is not doing this and it's not my fault. It's my responsibility to help them through it."

Torre will give the ball to Ted Lilly (8-9, 3.55 ERA) in the hopes he can continue his dominance of the Astros. The left-hander is 7-0 with a 1.64 ERA in his last 10 starts versus Houston.

In two starts this season while with the Cubs, Lilly limited the Astros to one run with 14 strikeouts in 13 innings, but didn't record a decision.

Despite failing to get a win or loss Saturday, Lilly was solid in a 5-4 defeat to San Francisco, allowing two runs and three hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

The Dodgers swept a two-game set at home against Houston in May.

Despite being all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Houston has won 13 of its last 17, including a 4-0 road win over Chicago on Wednesday. The club's 30-20 record since the All-Star break is third-best in the NL, and Houston has won 14 of 18 at Minute Maid Park as they begin a 10-game homestand.

"Since the All-Star break, it's been a different feeling and we're playing with a ton of confidence, maybe even with a little swagger," shortstop Tommy Manzella told the team's official website. "We're trying to build that mindset and how we carry ourselves."

Bud Norris (6-8, 5.34) looks for his first win in four starts for Houston.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.06 ERA in his last three appearances. He had been 4-0 with a 3.31 ERA in his previous five starts with three victories coming at home.

But Norris struggled in his only start against the Dodgers, surrendering six runs and seven hits with three walks in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-3 defeat May 18.