Astros-Dodgers Preview

5/9/2008 12:23 AM

By DAN PIERINGER
STATS Writer

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball lately, but they couldn't muster much offense in their last game.

The Houston Astros can relate.

The Dodgers hope to bounce back from a blowout defeat and get their 11th win in 13 games on Friday when they open a three-game home series against the Astros, who had won five straight before their last outing.

After a slow start to the season, Los Angeles (19-15) started jelling during a season-high eight-game win streak from April 25-May 3. Since the beginning of that run, the Dodgers have averaged 6.9 runs and batted .302 overall and .361 with runners in scoring position.

But that offensive surge hit a snag in the club's last game, as the Dodgers managed only four hits in a 12-1 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday.

"When you win the first two games, you get a little greedy," Dodgers manager Joe Torre told the team's official Web site. "You need to ride a hot streak as long as you can. We appeared a little flat."

The Dodgers hope to get back on track against a team that's coming off a similar offensive let-down. The Astros (18-17) had won eight straight at home and five in a row overall before falling 8-3 against Washington on Thursday night.

"I'm a little disappointed," said Astros manager Cecil Cooper, whose club had averaged 7.3 runs during its eight-game home streak.

Houston will try to get back on track against Los Angeles starter Derek Lowe (2-2, 3.66 ERA), who hopes a return to Dodger Stadium helps him rebound from his worst start of the year.

Lowe gave up five runs and six hits while walking four in five innings of a 7-2 loss at Colorado on Sunday as the Dodgers fell to 5-2 in games started by the right-handed sinkerballer. He's 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts at Dodger Stadium - all Los Angeles victories.

Lowe has also had success against the Astros, going 2-2 with a 2.23 ERA in six career starts versus them. He has a 1.44 ERA in four starts against them over the last two seasons.

Despite Lowe's effectiveness in the series, Los Angeles dropped four of seven between these clubs in 2007, including two of four at home.

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, who has reached base 17 times in his last 20 plate appearances while batting .813 (13-for-16) in that four-game stretch, is just 4-for-18 (.222) in his career against Lowe. Outfielder Carlos Lee, however, is 10-for-28 (.357) with two homers against him.

Brian Moehler (0-0, 7.04) will take the mound for the Astros in his first start since Sept. 29, 2006 - while with Florida. The right-hander has struggled out of the bullpen this year, but the Astros hope he can adjust quickly to his new role in the rotation with left-hander Wandy Rodriguez still recovering from a groin strain.

Moehler is 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in eight career games - three starts - against the Dodgers.