(My Sportsbook) - Lefty Wandy Rodriguez leads the Houston Astros back to Minute Maid Park for the first time since the arrival of Hurricane Ike when they face the visiting Cincinnati Reds to open a three-game midweek series.

Houston was driven from its home field by the devastating storm and had to play a home series in Milwaukee before a mediocre road trip that's left the team on the fringes of National League Wild Card contention with six games remaining.

The Astros trail the wild card-leading New York Mets by 3 1/2 games.

Rodriguez, a 29-year-old, can reach nine wins for the third consecutive season by beating the Reds, against whom he is 3-3 in 10 lifetime starts.

He got a no-decision after a quality seven-inning outing against them on August 26, allowing three hits and a run and striking out 10 in a game Houston eventually lost, 2-1.

Previously, he'd lost a 9-5 verdict against Cincinnati on July 30 after allowing nine hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

In his last three overall starts, however, he's given up just 11 hits and a run in 13 2/3 innings.

For the Reds, right-hander Edinson Volquez enters the homestretch of his first season in the National League.

The 25-year-old was 16-5 after an 11-7 win against San Francisco on August 29, but is 0-1 in four September starts - his longest winless drought of the season.

Acquired in an offseason trade for outfielder Josh Hamilton, Volquez allowed three hits and four runs over seven innings in a 5-4 loss to St. Louis on Sept. 18, his most recent start.

He defeated Houston and Rodriguez in the July 30 game, allowing six hits and one earned run in 6 1/3 innings.

On Monday in Cincinnati, Jerry Hairston Jr. went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored as the Reds put a serious damper in Florida's slim playoff hopes with a 7-5 win over the Marlins in a makeup game at Great American Ball Park.

Joey Votto went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs scored and two driven in while Andy Phillips added a pinch-hit two-run single for the Reds, who have won three of their last four.

Aaron Harang (6-16) won his second straight start as he gave up four runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts in seven innings of work.

On Sunday in Pittsburgh, Miguel Tejada was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI, as the Astros picked up a 6-2 victory over the Pirates in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Oswalt (16-10) scattered seven hits and allowed a run without walking a batter and striking out four in six innings for Houston, which is just 2-6 following a six-game winning streak.

Michael Bourn had three hits and two steals, while Brad Ausmus contributed a two-run single for the Astros.

Houston has won 10 of its 12 matchups with the Reds this season.