(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates hope that a trip home will cure what ails them, as they play the first of three straight games versus the National League Central-rival Houston Astros tonight at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh was just swept in three games over the weekend by the Milwaukee Brewers, suffering an 11-6 setback in Sunday's series finale at Miller Park. Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer and Jason Bay added a solo shot for the Pirates, who have lost five of seven and seven of their last 10 games.

Pirates starter Zach Duke was rocked for six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits in 2 1/3 frames, but did not get the decision. The loss went to relief pitcher Denny Bautista, who allowed four runs in just an inning of work.

Pittsburgh, which is last in the Central standings, will kick off a seven-game homestand on Monday and is 25-19 in the Steel City this season. The Pirates will send Phil Dumatrait to the mound in the series opener, and he is fresh off the disabled list due to bursitis in his left shoulder.

Dumatrait last pitched on June 19 in a 13-8 loss against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. The southpaw was torched for nine runs and 11 hits in five innings of work.

Dumatrait faced Houston for the first time on June 3 of this season at PNC Park and. He was handed the loss despite permitting two runs and seven hits in six innings of a 2-0 defeat.

Houston will continue a nine-game road trip on Monday and is 19-27 away from Minute Maid Park this season. It lost two of three games to Atlanta over the weekend to open the current trek, suffering a 7-6 loss in 17 innings on Sunday. Mark Teixeira ended the longest game in Turner Field history with a bases-loaded single off the top of the left-center field wall to lift the Braves.

Ty Wigginton slugged a grand slam in a three-hit effort for Houston, which has dropped five of its last six, while Carlos Lee and Brad Ausmus each collected RBI hits. Tim Byrdak was the loser after giving up the game-winning hit to Teixeira in the 17th frame, with Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez surrendering three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Runelvys Hernandez will make his third start for the Astros since being called up from the minors to replace the embattled Shawn Chacon. Chacon was released shortly after an altercation with general manager Ed Wade on June 25.

Hernandez last pitched on Wednesday in a 4-1 loss versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he was reached for four runs -- three earned -- in five innings. The veteran right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in two outings this season.

Hernandez has never faced the Pirates.

Astros All-Star first baseman Lance Berkman did not start Sunday's game against the Braves because of an irritated left eye, after feeling discomfort in Saturday's contest. Berkman flied out with the bases loaded as a pinch hitter in the 15th inning of yesterday's loss. He has just two hits over his 19 most recent at-bats.

Pittsburgh won two of three games versus Houston from June 3-5 at PNC Park. The Pirates are 12-6 in the last 18 matchups in this series, with a 6-3 mark as the host over that time.

Houston went 13-3 against the Pirates in 2006.