Houston @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( May 20, 2010 ) Colorado 4, Houston 0
How do you solve a problem like Ubaldo?
Luckily, the Houston Astros won’t have to find out as Colorado Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez pitched Sunday and will not pitch in the teams' four-game series at Coors Field.
Jimenez ran his record to 11-1 and has a 0.93 ERA, the lowest in the majors after 12 starts in nearly 100 years. Jimenez, who is threatening a season of historic proportions, stretched his club record consecutive scoreless innings streak to 33 in a 3-2 victory over Arizona.
Houston, which is just 8-15 away from home, begins a 10-game road trip coming off its most successful homestand of the season. The Astros won five of its last six to finish 5-2.
The Astros rank last in the majors in average (.237) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.631) but have averaged 5.5 runs in their last six. They also have won eight of 11 against the Rockies, taking four of five at Coors Field.
Third baseman Pedro Feliz has had the hot bat for the Astros. He takes an eight-game hitting streak into this series and is batting .393 (11-for-28) in that stretch.
Colorado has struggled on offense, scoring three runs or fewer in four of its last five games, and went 5-for-44 (.114) with men in scoring position during its six-game trip.
The Astros will send left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (3-7, 5.07 ERA) against Rockies righty Jason Hammel (2-3, 6.09 ERA).
Rodriguez won a career-best 14 games last season but is struggling so far in 2010. He is coming off a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals when he struck out eight and allowed one run in five innings, snapping a three-start losing streak.
Rodriguez is 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA at Coors Field and struck out a career-high 11 in his last start here on May 14, 2009. He is 4-2 with a 4.31 ERA in nine career starts against Colorado.
In a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants last Tuesday, Hammel allowed one run on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He had five strikeouts and no walks. He is 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA against Houston.
Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, who is on the disabled list with a torn tendon in his finger, will throw a bullpen session on Monday. He is not expected back before July.
Houston right-hander Bud Norris, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right biceps, will join Triple-A Round Rock for a rehabilitation assignment. He is expected to throw at least 50 pitches in a simulated game on Monday.