San Francisco @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2010 ) San Francisco 3, Houston 6

Andres Torres has had opportunities before but nothing like what the San Francisco Giants are providing in 2010.

The 32-year-old outfielder looks to continue his career year Thursday as the Giants wrap up a three-game series with the Astros in Houston.

Torres had seen a sprinkling of major-league action in his career, but spent three full seasons – 2006 through 2008 – entrenched in the minors before the Giants called him up last season. Apparently, the front office liked what it saw because Torres has been a mainstay this year in the leadoff spot and has already set a career-high in at-bats (208).

It has paid off with a .284 average, a .384 on-base percentage with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. While those numbers won't secure him a spot in the All-Star Game, they represent a vast improvement for Torres, who had never hit above .220 until last season, when he finished at .270.

During his previous major-league stints with Detroit (2002-04) and Texas (2005), he hit just .210 in 257 at-bats.

Torres and the rest of the Giants offense might only need a few runs in the series finale with Matt Cain on the mound.

The towering right-hander is 6-5 on the year with a 2.16 ERA, proving last season’s breakout year (14-8, 2.90 ERA) was no aberration. The 25-year came into his own last year after being brought up to the majors as a 20-year-old in 2005.

Although he lost last time out against Toronto, Cain has been terrific of late. He has gone 4-1 in his last five starts, including two complete-game shutouts.

He’ll take his chances against the Astros, who have struggled mightily with the bats this season. Houston is last in the major leagues in batting average (.234) and home runs (40) – and with the season Houston left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (3-10, 6.09 ERA) is having, he'll need all the run support he can get.

Rodriguez's abysmal numbers are a bit surprising, considering his ERA has dropped in each of his last three seasons – leading to last season's 14-win, 3.03 ERA performance.

The problem, on the other hand, is easy to identify – too many base runners. Rodriguez is on pace to allow career highs in hits and walked allowed, leading to an ugly WHIP of 1.71.