Mets at Astros
He doesn’t turn 22 years old until Sunday, but diminutive Houston second baseman Jose Altuve continues to come up big for the Astros. The 5-foot-5 Altuve banged out two more hits in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory over New York, raising his average to .367. Altuve ranks eighth in the majors in hitting and has helped spark Houston to four wins in its past six games. New York third baseman David Wright also is among the leaders in hitting. Wright went 2-for-4 Tuesday, moving his average to .395 (fourth in the majors).
The Astros have taken the first two games from the Mets, the first series Houston has won since taking two of three from Colorado in the first series of the season. Houston goes for the sweep behind starter Wandy Rodriguez, who has surrendered only three earned runs over 20 innings in his past three starts. The Mets have lost three out of five and remain 1½ games behind Washington in the National League East. After Jon Niese lasted only three innings Tuesday, New York hopes starter Chris Schwinden can pitch better than in his first start of the season Friday.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), FS Houston
PITCHING MATCHUP: New York RH Chris Schwinden (0-0, 11.25 ERA) vs. Houston LH Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 1.72)
Schwinden endured a rough four-inning appearance Friday at Colorado. In only his fifth major-league start, Schwinden allowed seven hits and five earned runs in a no-decision. In four starts at Triple-A Buffalo, Schwinden went 2-2 with a 2.05 ERA and held opponents to a .184 batting average. Rodriguez looks for his third consecutive victory in his sixth start of 2012. The left-hander beat Cincinnati on Friday, scattering six hits and allowing two runs in six innings. Rodriguez has a WHIP of 1.09 and has issued eight walks in 31 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets are off Thursday, then play a weekend series at home against Arizona before hitting the road to face NL East rivals Philadelphia and Miami next week. Houston continues a nine-game homestand against St. Louis this weekend and Miami next week.
2. Houston center fielder Jordan Schafer did not play Tuesday with a strained left oblique. Schafer has reached base in 23 consecutive games, two off the team record.
3. New York left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis led all rookies in April with a .325 average. Nieuwenhuis finished the month with 26 hits and 11 runs scored.