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Berkman aims to continue to terrorize pitchers

May 10, 2008 - 2:38 PM Houston (19-17) at LA Dodgers (19-16) 10:10 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Lance Berkman may be causing pitchers around the league to lose quite a bit of sleep.

Berkman aims to continue his unbelievable start to the season on Saturday as the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers resume their three-game series.

Berkman blasted his 12th home run of the season and Brian Moehler threw five effective innings as the Astros posted a 7-1 victory in Friday's opener.

It seems as though Berkman cannot be slowed lately. The four-time All-Star has reached base safely in 20 of his last 24 plate appearances, and is hitting .500 (23-for-46) with six home runs and 14 RBI in his last 12 games.

Berkman ranks at least second in the National League in nearly every offensive category. The 10-year veteran leads the NL in RBI with 35 and his 12 home runs are second only to Philadelphia's Chase Utley (13).

Chad Billingsley (2-4, 4.54 ERA) has been pitching well lately, but facing Berkman will surely be a litmus test. Billingsley won his second straight start on Monday by limiting the New York Mets to one run and five hits in six innings of a 5-1 victory.

The Astros will counter with Chris Sampson (1-3, 7.96), who is looking to rebound from a terrible outing. The righthander allowed five runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of an 8-6 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday.