(Sports Network) - The last time Ted Lilly faced the Astros, he extended a winning streak similar to the one he is on now. Lilly seeks his fourth straight winning start, as he leads the Chicago Cubs against Houston tonight in the opener of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Lilly is 1-1 with a 3.60 earned run average in three career outings against the Astros, and his lone victory against them last year was the fourth victory of a personal six-game winning streak. He held Houston to a run on four hits over eight innings while striking out seven.

Lilly has improved to 4-4 this season and lowered his ERA to 5.33 by giving up just eight runs over his last three starts. He appears to be very comfortable on the hill, as he has struck out 21 batters over his last two outings, including 11 in a win over San Diego on Wednesday.

The left-hander yielded four runs -- the most he has given up in his last five starts -- on six hits over six innings of an 8-5 victory, while walking just one.

He'll have to contend with one of the hottest hitters in the league tonight in Lance Berkman. Berkman has a hit in each of his last 17 games and is batting an amazing .545 over that run with eight homers, 21 RBI and 22 runs scored. His .399 batting average is second in the majors, and his 16 homers are tops in all of baseball.

The Astros first baseman is hitting .125 (1-for-8) in his career off Lilly though, with an RBI.

If Berkman is the hottest hitter in the league, then Chicago's Alfonso Soriano isn't too far behind. Soriano has hit in nine straight and batted .525 over that stretch with seven homers and 16 RBI.

The Cubs' slugger smacked two home runs in back-to-back games against the Pirates, but was contained a bit in Sunday's win. He went just 1-for-3 with an RBI in Chicago's 4-3 win.

Ronny Cedeno, Reed Johnson and Kosuke Fukudome drove home the other runs for Chicago.

Jason Marquis (2-3) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and a walk over six innings while striking out three for the Cubs, winners in eight of their last 10 games. Kerry Wood earned his 10th save of the season.

Chicago's winning ways have it two games above St. Louis for the lead in the National League Central and 2 1/2 games up on Houston, which has won six of its last nine games.

The Astros avoided getting swept by the Texas Rangers on Sunday with a 5-4 win on the road. Miguel Tejada had three hits, a run batted in and scored twice in the victory. Carlos Lee, Mark Loretta, Ty Wigginton, J.R. Towles each knocked in a run as well.

Hunter Pence added two hits to extend his career-best hit streak to 16 games, hitting .359 in that span with 14 RBI.

Brandon Backe (3-5) earned the win, tossing 6 1/3 solid innings. The righty surrendered three runs on five hits while fanning five. Jose Valverde threw the final 1 1/3 innings for his 12th save, striking out three batters in the ninth.

Brian Moehler will make his third straight start in place of the injured Wandy Rodriguez (groin) tonight. Moehler picked up a win over the Dodgers in a starting role on May 9 and then earned a no-decision on Wednesday in San Francisco. He gave up three runs on eight hits over five innings, failing to hold a 3-0 first-inning lead.

Moehler, who has also made five relief appearances this year and has a 4.58 ERA, and is 1-0 with a 3.91 ERA in six career games (3 starts) against the Cubs.

Soriano is hitting 4-for-7 (.571) in his career off of Moehler, while new Cub Jim Edmonds is a lifetime .344 batter (11-for-32) against him with five homers and 10 RBI.

Chicago won two of three over Houston when the clubs met at Wrigley Field in early April, and has won six of its last eight versus the Astros.