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Dodgers-Astros Preview

Sep 11, 2010 - 5:59 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (69-72) at Houston (67-73), 7:05 p.m. EDT

With their postseason chances quickly fading, the Los Angeles Dodgers are simply looking to salvage something positive in the final weeks of the season.

The Dodgers can start with a second straight victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

After reaching the NL championship series the past two years, a recent slide has Los Angeles (70-72) on the verge of missing the postseason in 2010. The Dodgers snapped a six-game skid with a 4-2 triumph in 11 innings Friday, their third in 13 games.

"We're not in the race," manager Joe Torre told the Dodgers' official website. "Of course, we're not eliminated. But we're running out of games. We have not been able to put anything together to make us feel like we're in a race.

"We haven't been good enough. It's as simple as that."

For one night, however, the Dodgers were the better team after Jay Gibbons' two-run homer snapped a 2-2 tie. Gibbons had two hits and three RBIs as Los Angeles scored one fewer run than it totaled in the previous five games.

Back in the majors for the first time since 2007, the 33-year-old Gibbons is 12 for 35 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 24 games since being recalled from the minors Aug. 8.

"I think he certainly would hold his own," Torre said. "He can do a couple of things, play first base, play the outfield. When he stands at the plate he knows what he wants to do. I don't think there's any question that he has a plan when he's up there."

Los Angeles' Matt Kemp was 4 for 23 in his previous eight contests before going 2 for 4 on Friday. He is 6 for 12 versus Houston this season, and 4 for 12 with two doubles against scheduled starter Wandy Rodriguez (11-12, 3.77 ERA).

The left-hander was 4-1 with an 0.98 ERA in eight starts before allowing four runs in seven innings Monday. He didn't factor in the 5-4 loss to the Cubs.

Rodriguez is 3-3 with a 2.55 ERA in seven starts versus the Dodgers. He allowed four runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 6-2 loss at Los Angeles on May 17.

Now, he will try to help the Astros (67-74) bounce back from only their fifth loss in 19 games.

Michael Bourn had three hits with two RBIs on Friday, and is batting .375 in his last 19 games. The Astros leadoff hitter is 6 for 13 versus Los Angeles this season.

The Astros will get their second look at Los Angeles' John Ely (4-7, 4.63), who was recalled from the minors and will make his first start in exactly two months Saturday.

Ely was solid against Rodriguez and Houston in May, giving up two runs and striking out eight in seven innings.

However, the rookie right-hander allowed 12 runs over five innings while losing his last two starts before being sent down. He posted a 6.22 ERA in 13 starts for Triple-A Albuquerque.