Astros lineup and preview vs. Brewers

The Astros will try for their fifth win in a row tonight against the Brewers at Minute Maid Park. The Astros are 7-1 in their last eight home games and 9-6 in their last 15 games overall.

The key for the Astros has been pitching. Houston’s pitchers have posted a 1.81 ERA in the last seven games, and the starters have a 1.76 ERA in that span. Lucas Harrell, called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start in place of Brett Myers, will try to keep it going tonight. He’s the team’s ninth different starting pitcher this year and fourth rookie starter.

Before we get to the lineup, here are some pregame notes:

• The Brewers are 9-3 against the Astros this year, outscoring them by an average of 5.6-3.3 per game. Milwaukee has a .307 batting average against the Astros this year and has held Houston to a .216 average. What’s more, Brewers starting pitching has a 2.56 ERA against the Astros, compared to a 5.45 for the Astros against Milwaukee.
• The Brewers are coming off one of their best road months in history, going 10-3 in August away from home.
•  The Astros are 7-2 at home since Aug. 8, averaging 5.2 runs per game.
• Astros LF J.D. Martinez has posted the highest batting average with runners in scoring position in the NL since Aug. 1 at .448.
• Ryan Braun is a .339 career hitter against the Astros, just ahead of teammate Corey Hart (.337).

Here is the Astros’ lineup:

CF Jordan Schafer

2B Jose Altuve

LF J.D. Martinez

1B Carlos Lee

RF Brian Bogusevic

3B Jimmy Paredes

SS Clint Barmes

C Humberto Quintero

P Lucas Harrell