Milwaukee @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2012 ) Houston 7, Milwaukee 0

Last-place teams clash when the Houston Astros host the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game interleague series beginning Tuesday. The Astros, who are 15 1/2 games behind the Oakland Athletics in the American League West, continue their seven-game homestand after taking three of four from the Chicago White Sox. The Brewers are 3-3 on their nine-game road trip and are tied with the Chicago Cubs, 16 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.

Houston will give the ball to Jordan Lyles, who struck out a career-high 10 in his last outing and has recorded four quality starts in his last five turns. Milwaukee counters with Alfredo Figaro, whose days in the starting rotation may be numbered with Marco Estrada and Chris Narveson expected to return from the disabled list soon. The Astros and Brewers were NL Central rivals for 15 years before Houston switched leagues this season.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Comcast SportsNet (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Alfredo Figaro (1-0, 3.47 ERA) vs. Astros RH Jordan Lyles (3-1, 3.48)

Figaro allowed three hits and struck out four in seven shutout innings, retiring 17 in a row at one point, in a 10-1 victory at Miami on Wednesday. The 28-year-old is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in three starts this season, allowing 14 hits and one walk in 17 1/3 innings. Figaro lost 8-1 at Houston on June 27, 2009 in his second major-league appearance when he allowed eight runs (seven earned) and 10 hits in six innings in the worst of his seven career starts.

Lyles, who has struck out 41 in 51 2/3 innings, hasn't lost since May 12 and is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his last six starts. The 22-year-old allowed three hits in seven shutout innings at Seattle on Thursday, but the Astros scored all their runs in the ninth inning of a 6-1 victory. Lyles is 1-3 with a 4.11 ERA in six career games (five starts) against Milwaukee. The Brewers' roster is hitting .238 against him, with Rickie Weeks the big exception (4-for-12, two home runs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee won the season series with Houston 9-8 in 2012.

2. Houston C Jason Castro delivered a pair of RBI doubles in the Astros' 4-2 loss to the White Sox on Monday, which snapped a four-game winning streak.

3. Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez will serve as the designated hitter in at least two games during the series, according to manager Ron Roenicke. Ramirez, who is hitting .281 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 37 games, did not play Sunday prior to Monday's off day.

PREDICTION: Astros 3, Brewers 2