SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers (38-44) at Houston (40-43), 5:05 pm

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros have yet to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. If Wandy Rodriguez continues to pitch at Minute Maid Park like he has this season, it's a trend that should continue. The Astros will try to win their fifth game in as many tries against the Dodgers this season when the teams continue their series on Tuesday. Houston, which has won three straight, will eye four consecutive victories for the first time in nearly two months. The last such streak, which ran from May 9-12, started when the Astros swept a three-game road set against the Dodgers. The Astros' season-long dominance has a good chance to continue as long as Rodriguez (3-3, 2.58 ERA) continues his mastery at home, where he is 2-2 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts, holding opponents to a .189 batting average in those outings. On the road, he is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four turns, allowing the opposition to hit .276. The lefthander was at it again in his last start on Thursday, matching a career high with nine strikeouts while yielding Texas to one run and five hits over eight innings in a 7-2 home victory. He'll be opposed by Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 4.36), who is still searching for his first major league win in his eighth start. The lefthander, who has received only eight runs of support from his offense, allowing two runs and six hits with four walks over four-plus innings in Thursday 2-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Oakland (45-37) at Los Angeles (49-34), 7:05 pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Ervin Santana has done his share of dominating opponents this season. On Tuesday, he'll have to face someone that has been even better. Rich Harden will attempt to maintain his incredible start to the season when the Oakland Athletics continue their three-game series against Santana and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Harden (5-0, 2.15 ERA), whose 11 starts this season match the total he has made in the last two seasons combined, took the mound just 14 times - including 11 starts - during the 2006 and 2007 seasons as shoulder injuries continued to hinder him. A similar path appeared likely for Harden this season when he went to the disabled list yet again with a right shoulder strain after his second start of this season. However, since his return to the mound on April 11, the righthander has been sharp, going 4-0 with a 2.41 ERA. Harden was at his best once again on Thursday, striking out a career-high 11 while allowing two hits and a walk over eight frames in Oakland's 5-0 victory over Philadelphia. With another win on Tuesday, he would become the first A's pitcher in 18 years to open a season with six consecutive victories. Anaheim will counter with Santana (9-3, 3.32), who will attempt to become the fifth American League pitcher to hit the 10-win mark this season. The righthander has been particularly sharp against the A's, against whom he is 8-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 12 games - 11 starts. Santana, however, is coming off an outing at Washington on Wednesday in which he surrendered four runs and four hits with a season-high five walks over six innings in a 5-4 setback. He struck out eight but did not factor into the decision.