SERIES PREVIEW: HOUSTON ASTROS

> When; where: 8:05 p.m. today, 7:05 p.m. Saturday, 2:05 p.m. Sunday; Minute Maid Park, Houston

> TV; radio: SportSouth; 640 AM and 94.9 FM

> Probable starters: Today —- RH Jorge Campillo (8-7, 3.76 ERA), Braves, vs. RH Brian Moehler (11-8, 4.61 ERA), Astros; RH James Parr (1-0, 4.00), Braves, vs. RH Brandon Backe (9-13, 5.66), Astros; RH Jair Jurrjens (13-10, 3.68), Braves, vs. TBD, Astros

> Worth noting: The Astros were 14-1 with a 2.18 ERA during a surge through Aug. 11 that buoyed postseason hopes. Then they moved two home games against the Cubs to Milwaukee for Hurricane Ike. The Astros were no-hit by Carlos Zambrano in the first and outscored 11-1 in the two losses before tens of thousands of Cubs fans who made the short trip to Milwaukee. That began a 3-7 skid in which Houston had hit .200 with a 4.60 ERA before their Thursday night game against Cincinnati.

> Who’s hot: Closer Jose Valverde converted 15 of 15 save attempts and piled up 21 strikeouts with one walk and six hits allowed in 17 score-less innings in his past 18 appearances before Thursday. … SS Miguel Tejada is one of the only Astros hitting lately, with a .327 average (16-for-49) and seven RBIs in his past 13 games before Thursday.

> Tonight’s pitching matchup: Campillo is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and two quality starts in his past three games after going 1-3 with a 7.39 ERA and no quality starts in his previous six. The Braves won each of his past three starts after losing four of the previous five. Campillo is 1-1 with a 7.23 ERA and .350 opponents’ average in his past five road starts. He has not faced the Astros. … Moehler is 2-4 with a 7.71 ERA in his past six starts, but 3-1 with a 5.67 ERA in his past six home starts. He has received more than 7 1/2 support runs per nine innings in those home games. He’s 1-5 with a 5.44 ERA in 13 games (six starts) against the Braves. Kelly Johnson is 4-for-9 with a homer against him, Chipper Jones 5-for-16 with a homer, and Jeff Francoeur 2-for-7 with a homer.