Opponent: Houston Astros (25-23).

Site: PNC Park.

TV, radio: All games on FSN Pittsburgh, KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network.

Starting matchups: RHP Ian Snell (3-3, 5.74) vs. RHP Taylor Buchholz (3-3, 4.35), LHP Paul Maholm (2-4, 4.33) vs. LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-2, 3.88), LHP Oliver Perez (2-5, 6.04) vs. RHP Fernando Nieve (1-3, 5.36).

Season series: Houston, 3-0.

Three things to know about the Astros: 1. They remain in the hunt in the Central, but no thanks to their play away from Minute Maid Park. They are 7-14 on the road, 3-11 this month, and they just lost three of four in Washington. 2. Expect RF Lance Berkman and 3B Morgan Ensberg to make return visits to Pittsburgh July 11 for the All-Star Game. Ensberg has 16 home runs, Berkman 14, and Berkman's 43 RBIs are fourth most in Major League Baseball. 3. The Pirates would appear fortunate to miss RHP Roy Oswalt and LHP Andy Pettitte, but Rodriguez and Buchholz combined to limit them to one run over 14²/₃ innings in the first two games of the Astros' sweep April 21-23 in Houston.

The Pirates' key to success: Get 2B Craig Biggio out once in a while. In the series at Houston, he went 10 for 13 with three doubles, two home runs, a walk and scored five runs.

The intangible: The Astros shine in one-run games, going 10-3, a violent contrast to the Pirates' 4-14 mark.

On deck: The 10-game homestand continues with four against Milwaukee.