Arizona @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( May 6, 2018 ) Houston 1, Arizona 3

The Arizona Diamondbacks are playing themselves out of postseason contention and have less than three weeks to turn around their fortunes. Arizona looks to begin that task when they visit the Houston Astros on Friday for the opener of their three-game interleague series.

The Diamondbacks find themselves 4 1/2 games out of first place in the National League West after losing five of their last six series, with the only non-loss during that stretch being a two-game split against San Diego. Arizona, which hasn't won a set since capturing both contests against the Los Angeles Angels from Aug. 21-22, dropped three of four at first-place Colorado after a 10-3 setback on Thursday that put it 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card. Houston, meanwhile, has won three in a row and is 10-1 this month as it enters Friday with a 3 1/2-game lead over Oakland in the American League West. Alex Bregman is coming off a performance against Detroit on Wednesday in which he registered his major league-high 50th double, 100th RBI and 100th run scored - joining Lance Berkman (2001) as the only players in franchise history to accomplish the feat and becoming the first Astro to drive in 100 runs since Carlos Lee in 2009.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (5-2, 4.18 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (11-10, 3.59)

Ray's unbeaten streak reached 10 starts on Sunday as he settled for a no-decision against Atlanta after allowing two runs on two hits and four walks over six innings. The 26-year-old Tennessean has posted only two victories during the streak but has given up fewer than three runs on seven occasions. Ray, who has yet to face Houston this year, yielded five runs on seven hits and eight walks over 10 1/3 frames in two career interleague starts in 2018 - both no-decisions.

Keuchel had recorded 10 quality starts in 12 outings before his turn in Boston on Sunday, when he escaped with a no-decision after being tagged for five runs and nine hits over six innings. The 30-year-old native of Oklahoma native has lost only twice in his last 17 outings but is just 4-5 in 14 turns at home this year. Keuchel has made six career starts against Arizona, going 3-3 with a 4.00 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona OF A.J. Pollock is three homers away from matching the career high of 20 he set in 2015.

2. Bregman has reached base safely in 39 straight games overall - the fifth-longest streak in team history.

3. Diamondbacks LHP T.J. McFarland, who hasn't pitched since Saturday, and RHP Clay Buchholz, who was scratched from his scheduled start on Thursday, returned to Arizona to undergo MRIs on their elbows.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Diamondbacks 3