(Sports Network) - Durable right-hander Brett Myers makes his 37th start in a Houston uniform today when the Astros wrap up a four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres at Minute Maid Park.
A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Myers has lasted at least six innings in all but one of his outings with the Astros, whom he joined before the 2010 campaign after several seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies.
He was 14-8 in 33 starts with Houston last season and has continued the workhorse mentality so far in 2011, pitching seven, 6 1/3 and seven innings, respectively, against Philadelphia, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cubs.
Myers got win No. 1 of the year against the Cubs, scattering eight hits and allowing one run in an 11-2 win on April 12.
He's 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 31 2/3 innings against the Padres.
San Diego counters with lefty Clayton Richard, who also won 14 games in 33 starts in 2010. He had a 3.75 in 201 2/3 innings with the Padres last season while allowing 206 hits and striking out 153 batters.
The 27-year-old has been effective in three starts so far in 2011, giving up 11 hits and four earned runs in 14 2/3 innings against St. Louis, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati.
He has never faced the Astros.
On Saturday, Joe Inglett had a pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh inning which proved to be the winning run, as Houston held on for a 5-3 victory. Chris Johnson had a two-run homer to tie the game in the fourth as the Astros took a 2-1 lead in the series.
Mark Melancon got the win (1-0) by recording the final out in the seventh. Houston starting pitcher Nelson Figueroa went 6 2/3 innings allowing three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and struck out five.
Chase Headley had two doubles and two RBI for the Padres, who got 6 1/3 innings from starting pitcher Mat Latos (0-2). He gave up all five runs on four hits while fanning six.
San Diego was 5-2 against the Astros last season.