The Houston Astros and the Pittsburgh Pirates will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at PNC Park.
The Astros will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Russ Ortiz in this game. Ortiz has a 0-0 record and a 0.00 ERA this season.
It'll be Jeff Karstens toeing the rubber for the Pirates in this contest. Righthander Karstens is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA so far this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Pirates listed as 130-moneyline favorites versus the Astros, while the game's total has not yet been posted.
Mike Hampton pitched six shutout innings on Wednesday night, as the Astros downed the Pirates 4-1. The Pirates won the game as a -110 pick'em, while the team's played UNDER the posted over\/under (9).
Carlos Lee led the Astros with three RBIs, and Hunter Pence drove in the other run. Hampton evened his record to 1-1 with the win.
Adam LaRoche went 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Pirates. Ross Ohlendorf scattered four runs on eight hits over five innings in the loss.
Team records:
Houston: 2-6 SU
Pittsburgh: 4-4 SU
Houston most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Cincinnati are 6-4
After playing Pittsburgh are 6-4
After a win are 5-5<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 2-8
Before playing Atlanta are 6-4
After playing Houston are 4-6
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Houston is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing Pittsburgh
Houston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Houston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
Pittsburgh is 7-16 SU in its last 23 games at home
Pittsburgh is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing Houston
Next up:
Houston home to Cincinnati, Friday, April 17
Pittsburgh home to Atlanta, Friday, April 17<\/p>\n