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Astros' Oswalt hopes to take advantage of Rangers

Jun 25, 2008 - 1:21 PM Texas (39-39) at Houston (36-41) 8:05 pm. EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Houston Astros' righthander Roy Oswalt has a had rough season, but he may catch a break on Wednesday.

Oswalt takes the hill as the Astros continue a three-game interleague series with the Texas Rangers, who may be missing two key players.

Oswalt (6-7, 4.84 ERA), who lost just seven games in 2007, has been inconsistent this season and has also been slowed by a hip injury. The Astros' ace has just two wins in his last seven starts. On Friday Oswalt held Tampa Bay to two runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 4-3 victory.

The hard-throwing Oswalt may have the luxury of facing a Rangers' lineup that could be without both Milton Bradley and Josh Hamilton, who leads the majors with 76 RBI. Bradley (quadriceps) sat out for a sixth straight game, but did pinch-hit in a 4-3 loss on Tuesday. Hamilton left in the fifth inning with inflammation in his left knee, which was operated on twice in 2006.

Texas, which is trying to move over .500 for the first time in two years, sends Scott Feldman (1-3, 4.61) to the hill. Feldman allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, but did not factor into the decision in a 5-4 victory over Atlanta on Thursday.