Padres On Deck: Astros, Game 3 of 4

Houston (0-2) at San Diego (2-0), 7:05 pm, 4SD

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - Perhaps the worst place the new-look Houston Astros could have started their season was Petco Park. The Astros look to avoid their third straight loss to open the season on Wednesday when they face the San Diego Padres in the third game of a four-game series.

In an effort to improve its offense in the offseason, Houston traded five players to Baltimore for shortstop Miguel Tejada - a four-time All-Star and the 2002 American League MVP. They also acquired speedy leadoff hitter Michael Bourn from Philadelphia in a trade and signed free agent second baseman Kaz Matsui, although the latter begins the season on the disabled list.

Even with spacious Petco Park playing a role in their lack of offense, the Astros have managed just one run and 10 hits against Padres' aces Jake Peavy and Chris Young on their way to consecutive losses. Tejada and Bourn have combined to go 4-for-14 with one extra-base hit through two contests.

On Wednesday, their task will be to figure out veteran righthander Greg Maddux. After starting the 2007 season with a 7-9 record, the 41-year-old righthander went 7-2 over his last 10 starts. His opponent will be lefthander Wandy Rodriguez, who went 9-13 with a 4.58 ERA in 31 starts last season.