=== Houston Astros Team Report - September 20 ===

(My Sportsbook) - With four straight wins and 19 triumphs in their last 23 games, the Houston Astros seem primed to get into the playoffs. On Tuesday night they'll begin a monumental three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at SBC Park.

The Astros came into Monday's play with a one-game deficit on San Francisco in the wild card chase. Houston was also a half game in back of the Chicago Cubs.

Simply put, the Astros have been rocketing toward the playoffs. Sunday night, Roger Clemens tossed eight shutout innings to lead Houston over Milwaukee, 1-0, and complete a three-game sweep at Minute Maid Park. Clemens (18-4), who won his sixth straight start, only yielded two hits and two walks, while striking out 10. The Rocket has 328 career victories, one behind Steve Carlton for ninth place on the all-time list.

Jose Vizcaino scored the sole run of the game for the Astros, who now head to the road after winning 12 in a row at home. Houston has also won 10 of its last 14 road games.

Lefthander Carlos Hernandez will be on the mound Tuesday night for the Astros. After missing the entire 2003 season following shoulder surgery, Hernandez has come back to make seven starts this season. He threw six innings in a no- decision to St. Louis last Wednesday. This will mark his first career start versus the Giants.

With two more homers and three more stolen bases, Carlos Beltran will record the fourth 40-40 season in MLB history. The three 40-40 players are Alex Rodriguez (1998, 42 HR/46SB), Barry Bonds (1996, 42HR/40SB), and Jose Canseco (1988, 42HR/40SB).

The last time these teams met were the first three games of the season when the Giants won two of three at Minute Maid Park. The Giants are 11-4 against Houston since the start of the 2002 season.