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Astros clinging to slim playoff hopes, take on Braves

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:26 AM Atlanta (71-88) at Houston (84-74) 8:05 p.m. EDT

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros need to be perfect the rest of the way and get plenty of help to have a chance at stealing the National League wild card.

Houston will look to take care of its business when it meets the Atlanta Braves on Friday.

The Astros sit 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets, who have identical 88-71 records. For Houston to force a three-team playoff for the final postseason berth, it would need the Cubs to sweep the Brewers and Florida to sweep New York. The Astros would also have to sweep their series with the Braves before capturing a victory on Monday against the Cubs in a rescheduled game due to Hurricane Ike.

Brian Moehler (11-8, 4.61) gets the start for the Astros, who have won four of six following a five-game losing streak after Ike devastated the Houston region.

The righthander lasted only one inning in his last start, allowing five runs and five hits in a 6-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his only other start against the Braves this season, Moehler was reached for five runs, six hits and three walks in six innings, getting the loss in the 6-2 defeat on July 4.

Atlanta counters with Jorge Campillo (8-7, 3.76), who will look to damage the playoff hopes of an NL contender for the second straight start.

Campillo, 30, pitched six solid innings against the Mets on September 20, allowing two runs and five hits to earn the victory in the Braves' 4-2 win. It was his first victory in eight starts.