Houston @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2013 ) Houston 4, NY Yankees 4

The New York Yankees will try to take advantage of another struggling opponent when they host the Houston Astros on Monday in the opener of a three-game series. The Astros own the worst record in the American League and have allowed the most runs in the majors. The Yankees are coming off a four-game sweep of the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, who have the second-worst record in the AL and are second in the majors in most runs allowed.

The Yankees have been particularly strong in close games lately. They’ve won eight straight that have been decided by two runs or less, including four one-run games. That has kept closer Mariano Rivera busy, and he has responded by saving nine games -- the most in his career in April. Houston cut down on its strikeouts Sunday, but that’s about all. The Astros whiffed four times while the Boston Red Sox finished off their four-game sweep. Houston leads the majors with 248 strikeouts -- an average of 9.9 per game.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Houston, YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lucas Harrell (2-2, 4.08 ERA) vs. Yankees LH Andy Pettitte (3-1, 2.22)

Harrell’s only bad outing three weeks ago against the red-hot Oakland Athletics, who were in the middle of a nine-game winning streak. Since then, Harrell has allowed four runs in 18 1/3 innings, giving him the lowest ERA among Houston's starters. Harrell’s experience against the Yankees consists of two batters in his second major-league appearance in 2010 when he struck out Derek Jeter and got Nick Swisher to fly out in a relief role. Yankees outfielder Brennan Boesch has collected a double, three singles and a walk in five plate appearances against Harrell..

The only team Pettitte hasn’t faced in his 18-year career is the Yankees. The only team he has faced just once is Houston, where he spent three seasons from 2004-06 in between his multi-year stints with the Yankees. That start against the visiting Astros on June 11, 2010 was memorable for Pettitte because it marked his 200th career victory with New York. Pettitte, who will turn 41 in June, isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. He lost his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, but struck out 10, which marked the 15th time he has reached double digits in strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. June 11 will mark the 10th anniversary of Houston’s combined no-hitter at Yankee Stadium, the only time New York has been no-hit on their home field since 1952.

2. Yankees 3B Kevin Youkilis is scheduled to undergo on MRI on his back Monday after it tightened up on him Saturday night, his only start in a week..

3. Astros 3B Matt Dominguez, known for his superb defense, has been steady with his bat as well lately, going 9-for-26 in his last seven games to raise his average to .262.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Astros 2.