MLB Insiders - Houston Astros

The Pirates open a three game series with Houston on Tuesday night at PNC Park. Lefty Phil Dumatrait will be on the hill for the Bucs. The Astros will toss lefty Wandy Rodriguez.

The Astros look to avoid dropping a sixth straight game when they open a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday at PNC Park.

Tuesday's scheduled Astros starter is Wandy Rodriguez (1-1, 2.89 ERA).

Rodriguez allowed six runs - three earned - and six hits while walking four in 4 2-3 innings of a 6-1 loss at St. Louis on Wednesday, his first start since going on the 15-day disabled list April 20 with a strained left groin.

The left-hander once again takes to the road, where he has never had much success. He has allowed 10 runs in 9 2-3 innings over two road starts this season, and is 3-11 with a 6.38 ERA in 18 road starts since the start of 2007.

Rodriguez is also 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA in his last four starts at PNC Park since his only win there July 19, 2005. In four starts against the Pirates last season, he went 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA.

Pittsburgh counters with Phil Dumatrait (2-2, 3.52).

Dumatrait allowed an unearned run, two hits and had a career-high nine strikeouts in seven innings of a 7-2 win over Cincinnati on Thursday. The left-hander has given up two runs and seven hits over 12 2-3 innings in his last two starts.

This will be his first career outing against the Astros.

The Astros are on a five-game losing streak and have not won since opening a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals last Tuesday night, when they moved into a second-place tie with the Cardinals, only 1-1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs.

The Astros have scored only six runs since then, and only once more than one run in a game.

"It's almost like a house of cards," said Lance Berkman, the NL Player of the Month in May, after the Astros suffered a three-game sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers. "If one or two guys kind of start to struggle then that affects the guys behind them and that affects the guys behind them.

"It can come down in a hurry. We just haven't been as consistent as we were. We didn't have opportunities. We didn't have anybody on base. It's tough to generate anything without putting pressure. With the pitchers from the windup all the time, it's tough."

Whatever the case, the Astros lost tremendous ground against the hot Cubs during their recent losing streak.

There are three more games on the current nine-game trip through St. Louis, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. And nine more games remain on the string of 15 in a row against NL Central opponents, including visits from the Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers beginning Friday at Minute Maid Park.

"We need to get back to doing what we were doing before and giving ourselves multiple chances to score and not just one or two a game," Berkman said. "Try to get guys on there. But even a good offense can run into a week when it just doesn't get anything done."

--SS Miguel Tejada is hoping to regain his stroke. After going 0-for-12 at Miller Park against Milwaukee, Tejada is hitting (.120) 3-for-25 after six games on the current trip.

"It's frustrating," Tejada said. "We got to keep at them because we got to be up there Tuesday. We cannot be thinking about what just happened. We got to keep trying. Especially myself, I'm struggling right now, but what can I do?

"I just hit the ball hard every time I go to the plate. I don't have (a) hit. I mean everything ought to be fine Tuesday. I think a day off (Monday) is going to be great for everybody. We're going to come back Tuesday strong."

--1B Lance Berkman was named National League Player of the Month for May after hitting .471 (49-for-104), with nine home runs, a triple, 11 doubles and 22 RBIs in May.

He also scored 31 runs while posting a .553 on-base percentage, with 49 hits and 85 total bases.

--With the draft scheduled for Thursday, Astros general manager Ed Wade has been focused primarily on working with scouting director Bobby Heck in preparations for the draft.

But Wade still has the pulse on the major league club even though he's not traveling with the team.

"We're obviously looking to see if we can improve certain areas," he said. "At this point, there's nothing on the front burners. At this point, the focus is on the draft. Obviously, we're always talking about different minor things here and there. At this point, there's nothing on the front burner, so to speak."

--There's no denying the Astros are monitoring the situation with rookie C J.R. Towles, who is hitting .145 (17-for-117).

"With regard to J.R., we've tried to use Brad (Ausmus) more probably than we anticipated coming into the season," general manager Ed Wade said. "We're trying to create an environment that's positive. We have to continue to pay attention to his situation. I thought the game Friday in Milwaukee was a step in the right direction at the plate for J.R."

While watching Towles, the Astros aren't just looking short term. They're looking long term in terms of the future of the club and also in terms of making sure his current struggles at the plate don't damage his confidence in the future.

"We have to make sure it's not (to the point) where we lose this kid mentally when it becomes a long-term struggle day in and day out," Wade said.

--CF Michael Bourn is another young player the Astros have monitored as he works his way out of early struggles. Ed Wade spoke with manager Cecil Cooper on the phone, and they discussed the possibility that the left-handed Bourn might sit a bit more while the Pittsburgh Pirates start three consecutive left-handers against the Astros.

"I think over the last few weeks, Michael has shown signs of having a consistent attack," Wade said. "He needs a lot of at-bats to catch for a long time. He wasn't playing a lot in Philadelphia. I talked to Coop (Monday). With the left-handers lined up against us, (Bourn will) probably get some time off to get a chance for other players to get in there."

Cooper said over the weekend that Jose Cruz, who is hitting .114, might get a start to bat right-handed against the Pirates. Darin Erstad, who is hitting .315, started Saturday in place of Bourn.

--Ed Wade is pleased with the way Bobby Heck's staff has prepared for their first draft together with the Astros.

It's gone "very well," he said. "The scout's work ethic and attention to detail has been exemplary. We're beginning to put the draft board together."

BY THE NUMBERS: 2. Lance Berkman's bunt single on Friday night was only the second bunt single of his career and first since 2002.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It takes a toll on me even now... So it's tough, but (I've) got to bite my lip and bite my tongue and do what (I've) got to do... and not let it bother me -- at least to the point where (the players) know it bothers me... All losses bother me, particularly when you stretch three or four of them together." -- Manager Cecil Cooper, on the Astros' five-game losing streak.