Currently: May has been very kind to Houston Astros slugger Lance Berkman, who has put together one of the finest months in the history of the franchise. With one game remaining to pad those statistics, Berkman hopes to take advantage of one of his favorite matchups.
Berkman looks to help the Astros avoid their season-high fourth straight loss on Saturday night when they continue their three-game series at Miller Park against Ben Sheets and the Milwaukee Brewers, winners of four of five.
Berkman has at least one hit in 24 of 27 games in May and leads the majors with a .475 batting average, a .555 on-base percentage and an .871 slugging percentage this month - the highest May averages in Astros franchise history.
He has a major league-leading 31 runs scored - also a club record - and nine home runs, two shy of the franchise mark set by Jimmy Wynn in May 1969.
Berkman has 21 career hits against Sheets (5-1, 2.93 ERA), tied for his highest total against any pitcher. The switch-hitting first baseman is 21-for-60 (.350) with five home runs, eight doubles and 18 RBIs in his career versus the right-hander.
Sheets, though, has also struck out Berkman 20 times - four more than any other pitcher.
Milwaukee’s ace is 10-8 with a 3.86 ERA in 25 career starts against the Astros. After winning eight straight decisions against them from June 29, 2001-April 15, 2004, however, he’s just 2-6 with a 4.72 ERA in 13 outings.
Sheets could be in line for a return to form against Houston, which has struggled offensively lately despite Berkman’s continued success. The Astros (30-26) have totaled only four runs and 17 hits during a season high-tying three-game skid.
Those hitting woes continued in a 5-1 loss to the surging Brewers (27-28) on Friday night, as Houston went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
“We’re a good offensive team,” manager Cecil Cooper told the Astros’ official Web site. “We just got shut out. This is the third day in a row. Sooner or later we’re going to get it cranked up again, but you’ve got to remember, when you play at a pretty high level for such a long period of time, you’re going to have some low spots. This is one of those low spots for us.”
Despite battling a head cold and an inner ear infection, Milwaukee left fielder Ryan Braun matched a career high with four hits Friday to continue an excellent May of his own. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year is batting .325 with 11 home runs and 21 RBIs this month.
“I think (my illness) worked for me today,” said Braun, who has suffered from dizziness and other symptoms for more than a week. “For me, a lot of times if I have some kind of small injury or I’m a little bit sick, I think it helps me relax. When I feel too good, I try to do too much.”
Braun is batting .344 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 16 career games versus the Astros, including .519 (14-for-27) with four homers and 10 RBIs in seven home games against them.
He’ll try to continue that success against Houston starter Brian Moehler (2-1, 4.40), who has earned a permanent spot in the Astros’ rotation with four strong outings while filling in for injured left-hander Wandy Rodriguez.
The right-hander held a powerful Philadelphia lineup to three runs - two earned - and four hits in six innings of a 4-3 win last Saturday.
Moehler is 3-6 with a 4.21 ERA in 17 career games against the Brewers. Eight of those outings were starts, although he has made just one start against Milwaukee since the 2000 season.
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