ATLANTA BRAVES vs. HOUSTON ASTROS

Today: Atlanta (Maddux 17-11) at Houston (Miller 16-8), 10 a.m., Fox Family

Wednesday: Atlanta (Glavine 16-7) at Houston (Mlicki 7-3), 10 a.m., Fox Family

Friday: Houston (Reynolds 14-11) at Atlanta (Burkett 12-12), 1 p.m., Channel 11

Saturday: Houston (Oswalt 14-3) at Atlanta (Millwood 7-7), 10 a.m., FX or Fox Family*

Sunday: Atlanta at Houston, 10 a.m., FX or Fox Family*

*If necessary All times PDT

ST. LOUIS AT A GLANCE

Game 1 Lineup

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Po Player HR RBI Avg. 2B Fernando Vina 9 56 .303 3B Placido Polanco 3 38 .307 RF J.D. Drew 27 73 .323 LF Albert Pujols 37 130 .329 CF Jim Edmonds 30 110 .304 SS Edgar Renteria 10 57 .260 C Mike Matheny 7 42 .218

*--*

Pitcher: Matt Morris, 22-8, 3.16 ERA ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: Just how deep is the rotation? Rookie left-hander Bud Smith threw a no-hitter in September but might not get the call in a fourth game. Williams went 7-1 with a 2.28 ERA after being traded from San Diego. After going 43-43 in the first half, the Cardinals excelled by moving Drew and Pujols in front of McGwire and Edmonds in the lineup.

WEAKNESSES: Morris was dominant at home but struggled (7-6, 5.15 ERA) away from Busch Stadium. The team lacks a dominant closer, using unproven Dave Veres, Steve Kline and Mike Timlin.

KEY RESERVES: 1B Craig Paquette (.282, 15 HR, 64 RBI),

C Eli Marrero (.266, 6, 23), OF Bobby Bonilla (.213, 5, 21)

TEAM BATTING: .270 (third in NL)

TEAM PITCHING: 3.93 ERA (third)

HOUSTON AT A GLANCE

Game 1 Lineup

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Po Player HR RBI Avg. 2B Craig Biggio 20 70 .292 SS Julio Lugo 10 37 .263 1B Jeff Bagwell 39 130 .288 LF Lance Berkman 34 126 .331 RF Moises Alou 27 108 .331 CF Richard Hidalgo 19 80 .275 3B Vinny Castilla 23 82 .270 C Brad Ausmus 5 34 .232

*--*

Pitcher: Wade Miller, 16-8, 3.40 ERA

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS: The home run, with a lineup featuring five players with at least 20. The Astros have power on the mound too, with youngsters Miller and Roy Oswalt combining for 327 strikeouts in 354 innings. Closer Billy Wagner leads a bullpen with three others--Octavio Dotel, Mike Jackson , Mike Williams--who closed before coming to Houston.

WEAKNESSES: Bagwell and Berkman take their walks, but five players struck out at least 100 times (Bagwell, Berkman, Biggio, Hidalgo and Lugo), so Maddux and Glavine could take advantage if umpires extend the outside corner in calling strikes for them. The Astros’ infield defense is not inspiring, and they don’t have not much speed either.

KEY RESERVES: OF Orlando Merced (.263, 6 HRs, 29 RBIs), OF Daryle Ward (.263, 9, 39), IF Jose Vizcaino (.277, 1, 14)

TEAM BATTING: .271 (10th in NL)

TEAM PITCHING: 4.37 ERA (3rd)

KEYS TO THE SERIES

If the Astros shut down either Jordan or Chipper Jones, they can pitch around the other with little fear. If Maddux and Glavine win the first two games, the Braves win the series; if not, Burkett and Millwood must deliver at home for the first team in major league history to qualify for the playoffs despite a losing record at home. Oswalt, recovering from a groin injury, pitched a simulated game Monday and is scheduled to start Game 4. That won’t matter if Bagwell (.128, no home runs) and Biggio (.119, no home runs) can’t shake their playoff demons. If the seemingly unflappable Miller, 25, can neutralize Maddux today, the Astros will be looking good.