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Brewers open three-game set vs. Astros

Aug 18, 2008 - 1:01 PM Houston (63-61) at Milwaukee (71-54) 8:05 p.m. EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- After a walk-off defeat in the series finale to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, the Milwaukee Brewers turn to CC Sabathia to get them back on track when they open a three-game series against the Houston Astros.

The Brewers (71-54), who sit two games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (70-57) in the National League wild card race, have lost three of their last four contests following an eight-game win streak.

Sabathia (7-0, 2.55) has earned a win in all but one of his eight starts since joining Milwaukee. He has 70 strikeouts and just 13 walks over 64 innings with his new team.

In his last outing, he allowed one run and nine hits over seven innings, striking out eight in a 7-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. The lefthander's seven wins are already more than he totaled with the Indians (6) in 22 starts prior to being dealt on July 7.

The Astros will counter with lefthander Randy Wolf (2-0, 3.63)., who pitched seven strong innings against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. The lefthander allowed two runs and six hits.

Houston, which has won all four of his starts since he was acquired from the San Diego Padres, salvaged the series finale from the Arizona Diamondbacks after having its own eight-game win streak snapped.

Houston's Ty Wigginton enters with a career-high 14-game hitting streak. He is 26-for-51 with six homers and 16 RBI during that span.