Beating the Giants with Madison Bumgarner pitching at home is a tall order.



The Astros are not in good form to pull it off having lost 13 of their last 15 games, including six of their last seven.



The Astros have yet to prove they can beat a good team on the road, while the Giants are 45-17 during their last 62 interleague home games. Houston, with its homer or bust offense, is not a good fit for spacious AT&T Park.



The Astros lack big-game road experience and confidence right now. This is a cheap enough price to get involved with the Giants and Bumgarner, who has held four of his last five opponents to two or fewer earned runs. He has a 2.93 lifetime ERA versus Houston in four starts.



Astros starter lefty Scott Kazmir has a 3.20 road ERA, which isn't nearly as good as his home ERA. San Francisco is 15-10 versus lefties this season.