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Astros hope Berkman can return vs. Pirates

Jul 7, 2008 - 1:28 PM Houston (41-48) at Pittsburgh (40-47) 7:05 pm ET

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- An irritated left eye has kept Lance Berkman from maintaining his torrid start to the season. Perhaps a visit from the worst pitching team in baseball will help turn that around.

Berkman will attempt to pick up his fading Houston Astros on Monday when the team begins a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Berkman, who appeared only as a pinch hitter during Sunday's 17-inning marathon loss to the Atlanta Braves because of discomfort in his eye, is just 2-for-19 with one RBI over his last six games.

Those statistics are a far cry from the numbers he posted on his way to top-five rankings in the National League with 22 homers, 69 RBI and a .350 batting average this season. The totals were more than enough to lead to his fifth All-Star appearance.

However, his recent slump has coincided with the struggles of his team, which has dropped five of its six contests.

Runelvys Hernandez (0-2, 5.40 ERA) will try to halt Houston's slide when he makes his third start in place of Shawn Chacon, who was released after a physical altercation with general manager Ed Wade. In Wednesday's 4-1 setback to the Dodgers, the righthander allowed four runs - three earned - and six hits over five frames to take the loss.

He'll be opposed by rookie Phil Dumatrait (3-4, 4.66), who will be making his first start since going on the disabled list with bursitis in his left shoulder on June 22. Three days earlier, the lefthander surrendered season highs in runs (nine) and hits (11) over five innings in a 13-8 setback to the Chicago White Sox.