Bodog Beat

Mike Hampton and the Astros head to Atlanta to take on the Braves. (AP Images)

Returning to Atlanta for the first time since signing with Houston in the offseason, Mike Hampton will square off against Derek Lowe as the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves open a three-game series tonight.

Hampton has gotten off to a solid start in his second stint with the Astros, with whom he went 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA and finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting in 1999.

Lowe hasn't disappointed either, as the righthander held Cincinnati to two runs and four hits while striking out a season-high eight in seven innings of a 10-2 road win Saturday.

Lowe, who's 2-3 with a 3.15 ERA in seven career starts against Houston, is holding opponents to a .229 batting average.

Atlanta and Houston split six games in 2008, and the -170 favored Braves won two of three at Turner Field.

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