Brewers-Astros Preview

5/3/2008 11:11 PM

By DAN PIERINGER
STATS Writer

The Milwaukee Brewers couldn't help but worry when oft-injured ace Ben Sheets missed a start because of soreness in his right triceps. The right-hander's return this week helped ease those concerns.

Sheets looks to win his career-high fifth straight start on Sunday when the Brewers close their three-game series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Sheets (4-0, 1.64 ERA) left his start against Cincinnati on April 18 because of arm trouble and missed his next scheduled outing - a disturbing sign for a pitcher that has totaled only 63 starts over the last three seasons because of various shoulder and hand injuries.

But Sheets returned to the rotation on Tuesday, and the Brewers (16-14) remained undefeated in his starts with a 10-7 win over the Chicago Cubs. Sheets allowed a season-high four runs - three earned - and walked a career-high seven, but gave up only three hits in winning his fourth consecutive start.

"I felt real rusty," Sheets told the Brewers' official Web site. "I would say that's as bad as I've pitched, location-wise, probably ever."

However, the good news was that Sheets reported no problems with his arm.

"No stiffness, no tightness, no pain," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "Just a little, 'heavy,' and that's probably from missing a turn and (from the) cold weather."

Sheets hopes to help the Brewers avoid getting swept by the Astros (15-16). He's 10-8 with a 3.78 ERA in 24 career starts against Milwaukee's NL Central rivals, including 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA in four starts against them in 2007.

Continuing his success against Houston could be a challenge, as the Astros have totaled 13 runs and 24 hits - including seven home runs - in winning the first two games of the series. Starting pitcher Brandon Backe and center fielder Michael Bourn hit consecutive home runs in a five-run fifth inning as Houston won 6-2 on Saturday.

"I'm feeling much better about our offense," said Astros manager Cecil Cooper, whose team is trying to complete its first three-game sweep of the Brewers since Aug. 29-31, 2006 and its first against any opponent since Sept. 25-27 of last season. "Everybody has been pitching in. We're getting contributions throughout the lineup."

First baseman Lance Berkman was 2-for-4 in Saturday's game, and has hit safely in 12 of 13 games at Minute Maid Park, where he's batting .362 with five homers and 15 RBIs. Berkman is a career .316 (18-for-57) hitter with four home runs against Sheets, but he has struck out 20 times against him - more than he has against any other pitcher.

While Houston's offense is coming together, Milwaukee's has only 12 hits in the back-to-back losses after totaling 34 while winning two of three games against the Cubs in its previous series.

The Brewers could turn things around against struggling Houston starter Chris Sampson (1-3, 7.15). The right-hander gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings in a 5-3 loss to Arizona on Monday. He's 1-0 with a 4.00 ERA in three career games - one start - against Milwaukee.