ASTROS ARE UPSET MINDED.

Byline: Associated Press 

Maybe this won't be the blowout everyone expects.

Granted, the Atlanta Braves have the best record, the best pitching, the most postseason experience, seemingly everything in their favor heading into today's opener in the best-of-five NL division series against Houston.

But the Astros hardly seem intimidated. They played 11 games against the Braves during the regular season - all decided by two runs or fewer - and believe they can keep things close enough to pull off a monumental upset.

``There's absolutely no pressure on us. No one is expecting us to win,'' said first baseman Jeff Bagwell, who figures to play a vital role for the Astros after another monster season: 43 homers, 135 RBI and 31 stolen bases. ``We usually play to the level of our competition. We play bad against bad teams and good against good teams, and we've played good against the Braves.''

Atlanta, which had a 7-4 record against the Astros during the regular season, is making an unprecedented sixth straight postseason appearance after cruising to the NL East championship with baseball's best record, 101-61. It marks only the second time this century that the Braves have won at least 100 games.

``I don't feel like we've got a lot of holes,'' said Greg Maddux (19-4), who will pitch the opener on eight days rest against Houston ace Darryl Kile (19-7). ``We stack up well against any team in baseball.''

Certainly, no one can match Atlanta's starting pitchers. The Braves will send three Cy Young winners to the mound in the first three games - Maddux will be followed by Tom Glavine (14-7) Wednesday and John Smoltz (15-12) Friday when the series shifts to the Astrodome - and have 20-game winner Denny Neagle in reserve for Game 4.

``If we don't at least get back to the World Series, we'll fall short of our goal,'' Neagle said. ``That's been our goal since day one of spring training.''