Dodgers-Astros Preview

The Houston Astros have been a very inconsistent team. At least now they are streaking in a positive direction.

The Astros look to win four straight for the first time in nearly two months Tuesday night when they continue a four-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

After a slow start had them three games under .500 entering May, the Astros (40-43) put together a 17-7 stretch from May 2-27 to move a season-best seven games over the break-even mark. However, they followed that by losing 17 of their next 20 contests.

Houston has responded by going 7-3 in its last 10 games, winning series against major league-leading Tampa Bay, Texas and Boston.

Ace Roy Oswalt struck out nine in six innings before leaving with a strained left hip as the Astros opened this series with a 4-1 victory Monday.

"I hope it ain't too bad," Oswalt said. "I think I came out before it got too bad. I just hope it's nothing but a hip pointer where your ribs hit your hip. We will just see how it feels tomorrow."

Oswalt delivered another strong performance as Houston's rotation allowed three earned runs or fewer for the 12th time in 14 games.

Lance Berkman hit his 22nd home run and Brad Ausmus added a two-run single for the Astros, who have outscored the Dodgers 24-7 in winning all four meetings this season.

Houston hasn't won five straight versus Los Angeles (38-44) in a single season since 1992.

Offensive problems continue to plague the Dodgers, who have scored three total runs in their last four games. They have managed one run or fewer in six of the last eight contests.

"We're struggling right now," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "We really just haven't been able to put any hits together. It's frustrating."

That punchless offense wasn't helped by Monday's news that left fielder Juan Pierre was placed on the 15-day disabled list after spraining a left knee ligament in Sunday's loss to the Angels.

Torre said Pierre will be out 4-6 weeks.

"It sounds like it was better news than it could've been," Torre said.

Pierre is the 10th Dodger currently on the disabled list, joining Tony Abreu, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Schmidt, Rafael Furcal, Gary Bennett, Andruw Jones, Hiroki Kuroda, Brad Penny and Scott Proctor.

Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 4.36 ERA) takes the mound for Los Angeles, hoping to record his first major league win in his eighth start. The 20-year-old left-hander struggled in his last outing, allowing two runs, six hits and four walks in four-plus innings Thursday in a 2-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Kershaw is winless in 16 professional starts dating to Aug. 20, 2007, with Double-A Jacksonville.

The rookie hasn't received much run support -- getting only eight runs in his seven starts.

Coming off an outstanding outing, Wandy Rodriguez (3-3, 2.58) looks to win consecutive starts for the first time this season. The left-hander matched a career high with nine strikeouts and limited Texas to one run and five hits over a season-best eight innings Thursday in a 7-2 victory.

"I have a lot of confidence and I feel really good right now," said Rodriguez.

As impressive as his overall ERA is, Rodriguez's numbers are even better at home, where he is 2-2 with a 1.89 ERA. He has yielded one earned run or none in five of six starts at Minute Maid Park.

Former Astro Jeff Kent is 3-for-5 with a homer against Rodriguez, who is 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers.