Meaning 200 innings and 35 starts, typical of a No. 2 starter, which Backe was pegged for as the Astros prepared for 2008. Having never logged a full season as a starter and coming off Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, the No. 2 label was probably a stretch. Still, Backe was determined to prove his durability and worth in this rotation.

Four and a half months into the season, Backe has logged 140 innings, which means if he stays healthy, he'll at least come close to reaching the goal of 200 innings. And he'll probably end the season in the vicinity of 35 starts, seeing he has 25 with six weeks to go.

But Backe is wholly unsatisfied with his results. Entering his start on Saturday versus the Diamondbacks, he's 7-11 with a 5.14 ERA. By this time of year, he thought he'd be closer to the .500 mark, with an ERA in the low fours at the very worst.

"I thought I would be better, numbers-wise," he said. "I wouldn't say it's a disappointing year, but it's definitely not what I thought it was going to be, to this point. It's not really the numbers that are upsetting me -- it's the performance. It's been about a run too many [allowed] in each start."

Backe had two really bad outings -- April 17 in Philadelphia (five earned runs over three innings) and, most recently, Aug. 6 in Chicago (11 earned runs, 3 1/3 innings). The rest have ranged from great to good to just so-so, and he's hoping to end the season on a positive note as the Astros hang on to their slim playoff hopes.

"The innings have been there, but I'm not going to shy away from it -- the performance hasn't," he said. "But I still have some starts to make up for, and maybe I actually can make up for it and turn it into a pretty darn good year. It's going to be tough. I'm just glad we're winning."

Backe has a few things for which he's grateful. First, he feels his arm has gotten stronger since the surgery. He also figured he might be plagued by fatigue at some point in the season, as is the case with many pitchers during their first full season after surgery. So far, that hasn't happened.

"I just didn't know," he said "Soreness, tiredness ... I wasn't worried that I would reinjure it. Obviously, that would be the back-breaker. Just from being too sore, maybe something was going to make me skip a start, or I'd have to go on the DL once. That's been positive."

The Astros' recent string of wins has been another bright light in an otherwise disappointing '08 campaign. The Astros snapped an eight-game winning streak with a loss to the Diamondbacks on Friday, but still, they're winners of 14 of their last 18 and are still showing up in the Wild Card standings, albeit distantly.

Backe sees the next five-plus weeks as an important barometer for the front office to gauge how much work it has to do this winter in putting together the 2009 club.

"We're not giving up on this year," Backe said. "But nor are we so blind and stupid that we can't see that it's going to take somewhat of a miracle to make it. The only thing we can do about it is keep playing hard and winning.

"Playing well, to our potential, makes it easier on everybody. The important thing is to figure out what we potentially have for the following year, if we don't make it."

Pitching matchup
HOU: RHP Brandon Backe (7-11, 5.14 ERA)
In his last start, Backe bounced back from one of his worst performances of the season to throw one of his best, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings against the Giants. He struck out six and said he felt much more comfortable with his fastball, which he used about 80 percent of the time. He will face Arizona for the first time this season and just the second time in his career. Backe allowed five runs in 12 innings against the D-backs in 2006.

ARI: RHP Yusmeiro Petit (1-3, 3.12 ERA)
Petit last saw game action on Aug. 7, when he allowed two runs over five innings against the Braves at Chase Field. As the fifth starter, his spot was skipped when the D-backs had this past Monday off. His versatility has been important for the D-backs, as he has spot-started when needed before finally joining the rotation. As a starter this year, Petit is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four games. In nine relief appearances, he is 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA.

Tidbits
With Friday's crowd of 36,035, the Astros have now moved past the 25-million attendance mark at Minute Maid Park. In nine seasons at the ballpark, the Astros have drawn 25,021,938 fans. ... Kazuo Matsui received a pain-killing injection in his lower back on Thursday and is still considered day-to-day. ... Country music star Kenny Chesney, who is in Houston to perform at the Reliant Center on Saturday, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday's game.

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On the Internet
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Up next
• Sunday: Astros (Roy Oswalt, 10-8, 4.52) vs. Diamondbacks (Randy Johnson, 10-8, 4.18), 1:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Astros (Randy Wolf, 8-10, 4.56) at Brewers (CC Sabathia, 13-8, 3.04), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Astros (Brian Moehler, 8-4, 3.97) at Brewers (Ben Sheets, 11-6, 3.00), 7:05 p.m. CT