HOUSTON — Roy Oswalt doesn't show much emotion. The stoic Southerner almost never jumps up and down or yells.

But ask the Houston Astros ace about the team's revamped offense which features both Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee and a huge tooth-baring smile spreads across his face.

"We have a better team than we did last year," he said.

Why? Simple, he says.

"More offense."

As Oswalt, who went 15-8 with a 2.98 ERA in 2006, prepares for his fifth-straight opening-day start on Monday against Pittsburgh, he can't help but be excited about the possibilities for the team with the addition of Lee.

The Astros ranked last in the NL in batting average at .255 last season. Houston scored two or fewer runs in five of Oswalt's eight losses. Berkman hit 45 homers with 136 RBIs last season and Lee had 37 home runs and 116 RBIs in 2006 with Milwaukee and Texas.

"Having those two big guys in the middle of the lineup, you can't pitch around Lance to get to someone else. You've got Carlos waiting for you," he said.

The Pirates, who were 67-95 in each of the past two years, will try to break a streak of 14 consecutive losing seasons.

Oswalt will face young left-hander Zach Duke on Monday. Duke looks to rebound from last year's sophomore slump when he went 10-15 and led the National League in hits allowed with 255.

Duke, who grew up about three hours from Minute Maid Park in Clifton, Texas, is looking forward to starting in front of a large group of family and friends.

"It's always special to pitch in Houston, but it's a great honor to know I'm going to pitch in the opener there," he said. "I don't get too excited about things, but it's hard not to be excited about this."

Duke, who is 0-3 overall against Houston, thought Ian Snell should be the opening-day starter, but manager Jim Tracy decided giving Duke the nod would split up his three left-handed starters better.

While the Astros escaped spring training without injuries to any starters, the Pirates weren't so lucky.

They'll be without NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez to start the season after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a sprained right medial collateral ligament. Jose Castillo will start at second base until Sanchez returns.

Houston will have a whole new look in the outfield.