(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers try to get back on the winning track this evening when they begin a three-game series with the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles enters this series on the heels of getting routed by the New York Mets, 12-1, on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Matt Kemp knocked in the lone run and Andruw Jones doubled and scored for the Dodgers, who were denied a sweep in the set, but lost for only the second time in their last 12 games.

Brad Penny (5-3) was buried in defeat, charged with 10 hits and 10 runs -- all earned -- over 4 2/3 innings.

Hoping to get the Dodgers back in the win column will be right-hander Derek Lowe, who is 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Lowe was tagged with the loss on Sunday in Colorado, as he allowed five runs and six hits in five innings.

Lowe has faced Houston six times and is 2-2 against them with a 2.23 ERA.

The Astros will pin their hopes on right-hander Brian Moehler, who will be making his first start since September of 2006 when he was with Florida. Moehler, starting in place of the injured Wandy Rodriguez, has struggled out of the pen this season for the Astros, pitching to a 7.04 ERA without recording a decision.

Moehler is 1-1 lifetime against the Dodgers with a 6.35 ERA in eight games (three starts).

Houston had its five-game winning streak stopped on Thursday, dropping an 8-3 decision to the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park. Miguel Tejada, Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee each had a pair of hits for the Astros, who had 10 overall but just one for extra bases -- a double from Ty Wigginton.

Brandon Backe (2-4) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in six innings, though he had three walks to nine strikeouts.

Berkman has now reached base 17 times in his last 20 plate appearances while batting .813 (13-for-16) in that four-game stretch

Houston won four of its seven meetings with the Dodgers last season.