(Best E Casino) - The Houston Astros hope that ace Roy Oswalt can snap out of his current funk on the mound when he toes the rubber tonight in the first of three straight games versus the Milwaukee Brewers at Minute Maid Park.

Oswalt has dropped back-to-back starts and is 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA in his last four trips to the rubber. In his previous outing on June 4 at Pittsburgh's PNC Park, Oswalt allowed four runs -- three earned -- and nine hits in six innings of a 5-2 setback to the Pirates. The loss dropped Oswalt to 4-6 with a 5.38 earned run average in 13 starts.

The right-hander will face Milwaukee for the second time this season tonight. He defeated the Bucos on May 2 at Miller Park, yielding four runs -- three earned -- in six innings of a 7-4 victory. In 24 career games against the division-rival Brewers, Oswalt is 12-8 with three complete games (two shutouts) and a 3.69 earned run average.

Houston will resume a nine-game homestand on Tuesday and is 16-11 at Minute Maid Park this season. After opening the homestand with a win over St. Louis, the Astros lost the next two contests of the series. In Sunday's 5-4 setback to the Cardinals, starter Wandy Rodriguez allowed five unearned runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.

Lance Berkman clubbed a three-run homer for the struggling Astros, who have dropped 10 of their last 13 contests. Carlos Lee finished 2-for-3 with a walk, while Brad Ausmus doubled in the other Houston run. The Astros will also host the New York Yankees on the current stand.

Milwaukee salvaged the finale of a three-game series at Colorado with Sunday's 3-2 victory to open a six-game road trip. Ryan Braun and Gabe Kapler each went 2-for-5 and drove in a run, while Bill Hall also knocked in a run for the Brewers, who won for the seventh time in nine games.

Brewers starter Jeff Suppan held the Rockies to two runs -- one earned -- on four hits in 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win, walking five batters and striking out three. Salomon Torres recorded the final five outs for his seventh save of the season.

The Brewers are 14-20 away from Miller Park this season, and will hand the ball to Seth McClung on Tuesday. He is 3-2 with a 4.25 earned run average in 14 games (three starts) this season.

McClung is 2-1 over his last three outings, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks with six strong frames. He permitted one run and six hits in a 7-1 victory at Miller Park.

The right-hander is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two career relief appearances against the Astros.

The 2008 season series between Milwaukee and Houston is tied at three games apiece. The Brewers were swept in three games at Houston from May 2-4.