Astros-Dodgers preview

The Astros, coming off a nice series win in Toronto, return home for six games, beginning tonight against the Dodgers at Minute Maid Park. Left-hander Clayton Kershaw starts for the Dodgers against Bud Norris.

• Bud Norris is 7-1 in 13 starts at Minute Maid Park since last year’s All-Star break. Over that time he’s surrendered the major’s lowest opponent batting average at home (.178).
• Brett Wallace is one of only three Astros to ever have at least a .400 batting average through the first 22 home games o the season. He’s hitting .406 at home this year.
• Hunter Pence’s 23 hits with RISP are ht emost by Astros player at this point of the season since 1974.
• Chris Johnson is hitting .400 (12-for-30) since May 11, averaging one RBI per every 3.3 at-bats. Prior to May 11, he was hitting .181.
• Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw’s 10 wins in May since 2009 are the most in the NL in that month.
• Dodgers IF Jamey Carroll can afford to take as many pitches as he does (64.1 percent of pitches taken), considering his success with two strikes. His leads the Majors with 27 two-strike hits.
• The Dodgers have left 359 men on base, which is the third-most in the Majors. And they have a .214 batting average with men in scoring position, the lowest in the Majors.

Here is the Astros’ lineup:

CF Michael Bourn

SS Clint Barmes

RF Hunter Pence

1B Carlos Lee

LF Jason Michaels

3B Chris Johnson

2B Bill Hall

C Humberto Quintero

RHP Bud Norris