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Sheets looks to stop struggles, faces Astros

Apr 20, 2007 - 3:39 PM Houston (8-6) at Milwaukee (9-6) 8:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Ben Sheets would like to return to what he looked like in his first start of the season.

Sheets hopes to avoid his third straight loss Friday when he takes mound for the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a three-game series against the Houston Astros.

It was dominant start to the season for Sheets (1-2, 5.85 ERA), who pitched a two-hitter in beating Los Angeles on Opening Day. But he has lost his last two starts, getting ripped for 13 runs and 17 hits in 11 innings.

Sheets is 9-8 with a 3.88 ERA in 20 lifetime starts against the Astros, but is just 1-6 with a 5.22 ERA in his last eight. He went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in three outings vs. Houston last season, all at Miller Park.

With Sheets on the mound, the Brewers are seeking their second three-game winning streak of the season.

Houston sends rookie Matt Albers (NR) to the mound. The righthander was recalled from the minors after Jason Jennings landed on the disabled list.

Albers lost both of his starts last season, and went 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA four appearances overall.

Houston has won four straight and seven of its last eight games.

The Astros went 10-5 against the Brewers last season, winning six of the last seven meetings between the teams.