• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Dodgers aim to rebound against Astros

May 9, 2008 - 1:02 PM Houston (18-17) at LA Dodgers (19-15) 10:40 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Dodgers aim to get back on track Friday as they host the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series.

The Dodgers had been one the hottest teams in baseball having won 10 of 11 before managing just four hits in a 12-1 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday.

Los Angeles, which ripped of an eight-game winning streak during the run, had been averaging 7.4 runs prior to the loss.

The Dodgers will hand the ball to Derek Lowe (2-2, 3.66 ERA), who is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts here. The righthander allowed five runs and six hits in five inning of a 7-2 loss to Colorado on Sunday.

If Lowe is going to help Los Angeles rebound he will have to slow Lance Berkman, who is on an unbelievable tear.

Berkman, who had two hits and an RBI in Thursday's 8-3 loss to Washington, has reached base 17 times in his last 20 plate appearances. The 10-year veteran is hitting .813 (13-for-16) with two home runs and seven RBI in the last four games.

Brian Moehler (0-0, 7.04) gets the ball for Houston, which had its five-game winning streak snapped on Thursday. Moehler is making his first start in two years because Wandy Rodriguez is still recovering from a groin injury.