Pirates at Astros preview and pick!

[Champion Plays]

The Houston Astros look to extend their season-high winning streak tonight when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of a four-game set.

The Astros beat the Pirates 8-1 last night to make it four straight wins. Meantime the Pirates have lost three straight and 8 of 12 and tonight is their eighth road game in eight nights.

Kirk Saarloos has been dominant in six starts for Triple-A New Orleans this season going 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA. He gets his first 2003 Major League start tonight having gone 6-7 in 2002. It's worth noting that his only start against Pittsburgh last season was a shut-out at Minute Maid Park.

Kip Wells snapped a 10-start winless streak last time out in a 5-2 win over the Padres. In four career starts against Houston the right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA.

The Astros have beaten the Pirates in five straight games at Minute Maid Park in which they have outscored them by a hard-to-believe 27 runs to 4! Pittsburgh has been shut-out in three of those five games in which they are hitting just .159.

We'll ride the hot home Astros tonight to continue their domination of this series.

Recommended Play: Astros -135

 

[Champion Plays]

Groundhog day

The Houston Astros look to extend their season-high winning streak tonight when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third of a four-game set.

The Astros beat the Pirates last night to make it five straight wins. They trailed 9-4 in the eighth inning before a six run rally gave them a 10-9 victory. Meantime the Pirates have lost four straight and 9 of 13 and tonight is their ninth road game in nine nights.

Scott Linebrink gets the start for Houston and the 26 year-old right-hander is 0-1, 4.15 ERA in two starts this season. He has pitched 8 2/3 innings lifetime against the Pirates in which he has given up just two runs.

Right-hander Salomon Torres is 2-0, 2.59 ERA this season for the Pirates. He has a poor record in four career appearances against the Astros, going 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA.

The Astros have beaten the Pirates in 13 of the last 16 games at Minute Maid Park including the last six straight.

We'll ride the hot home Astros again tonight to continue their domination of this series.

Recommended Play: Astros -140

 

[loophole]

gotta think the pirates are crushed after losing that game last night. 9th road game out west in a row also.