• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Oswalt looks to get on track vs. Phillies

Apr 16, 2008 - 12:50 PM Houston (5-9) at Philadelphia (7-7) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - With all the problems the Houston Astros have on their pitching staff, the one piece they thought they could count on was ace Roy Oswalt. Through three starts, he has been anything but an ace.

Oswalt will look to get on track Wednesday when the Astros visit the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 30-year-old righthander allowed a career-high eight earned runs in four innings last Friday after surrendering eight in his first 12 frames. As a result of his ineffectiveness, the All-Star hurler owns the first 0-3 start of his career.

The Phillies have always been a good matchup for Oswalt (0-3, 9.00 ERA), as he owns a career 5-1 record with a 3.02 ERA in eight games - six starts.

Houston will also be attempting to bounce back from a crushing defeat on Tuesday night.

Leading 3-0 in the ninth inning, Astros closer Jose Valverde yielded a solo homer to pinch hitter Chris Snelling and a two-run blast to Pat Burrell before Pedro Feliz drove in the game-winning run with a double.

Philadelphia will turn to its own struggling starter, Kyle Kendrick (1-1, 6.14). The second-year righthander lasted just 2 1/3 innings in his last start, yielding seven runs - one earned - while walking six batters.