(From The My Sportsbook - All Times Eastern)

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

June 24, 8:05 p.m. - Ricardo Rodriguez (2-0) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-7)

June 25, 4:05 p.m. - Chris Young (6-4) vs. Brandon Backe (6-5)

June 26, 2:05 p.m. - Chan Ho Park (7-2) vs. Andy Pettitte (4-7)

2005 SEASON SERIES: Texas leads, 3-0

TEXAS (37-33)

In the opener the Rangers will go with Ricardo Rodriguez, who is 2-0 in a pair of starts since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma. He replaced Ryan Drese in the rotation, after Drese was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals. Last Saturday against the Nationals he allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out two and walking none in a 7-4 win. Rodriguez faced Houston last July 3, allowing five runs (1 earned) on five hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 10-8 loss. He did not factor into the decision.

On Wednesday the Rangers lost a 6-0 contest in Anaheim, as they were swept in three games by the Angels. Hank Blalock had two of the six hits for Texas, which has dropped four straight. The Rangers have also dropped eight of their last nine road games.

Texas currently leads the major leagues with 111 home runs -- 10 more than second-place Baltimore.

The Rangers are also third in the majors in runs scored, with 382.

HOUSTON (31-39)

The Astros seek their fourth consecutive win in the series opener. After a sluggish 2-4 road trip, the Astros swept the Colorado Rockies at home. On Wednesday, Roger Clemens allowed one earned run over seven innings to lift Houston past the Rockies, 6-2.

Clemens (6-3), who lowered his league-leading earned run average to 1.51, allowed two runs and five hits, struck out four and walked two to improve to 3-0 over his last four starts. The 42-year-old seven-time Cy Young Award winner also picked up career win No. 334 and upped his record to 24-7 since joining Houston prior to last season. Morgan Ensberg homered and had three runs batted in for the Astros, who picked up their fourth sweep of the season and won for the fifth time in their last six games overall.

Houston's Craig Biggio was hit by a pitch twice and is now just one behind Don Baylor (267) for the modern record. It was the 10th time he was hit this season.

In the opener, the Astros will rely on Roy Oswalt, who has won his last two outings. Following a shutout against Toronto on June 12, Oswalt anchored a 6-2 win over Kansas City last Saturday. He allowed one run on seven hits in eight innings, striking out four and walking one. Oswalt is 3-1 with a 3.53 ERA in five career starts against Texas.