Arizona @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2018 ) Arizona 4, Houston 2

The Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping a series-opening victory over the Houston Astros will be the tonic to igniting a flurry of wins to end the season. Arizona will visit the Astros again on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-set after ending a stretch of 10 losses in 13 games with a 4-2 triumph on Friday.

Jon Jay delivered the tiebreaking RBI triple in the eighth inning on Friday as the Diamondbacks pulled within three games of the National League's second wild-card spot - which is being shared by St. Louis and the Los Angeles Dodgers - and 3 1/2 of first-place Colorado in the NL West. David Peralta notched three hits and drove in two runs Friday to establish a new career high with 80 RBIs. Houston lost for just the second time in 12 games this month and saw its lead over Oakland in the American League West shrink to 2 1/2 games. Alex Bregman is just 2-for-15 over his last four games after beginning the month 13-for-29 with five homers and nine RBIs in eight contests.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (14-9, 4.67 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (14-3, 3.15)

Godley lost to the Rockies in his last turn as he surrendered five runs and seven hits over four innings. The 28-year-old has struggled of late, going 1-3 with a 7.09 ERA over his last five starts. Godley, who never has faced the Astros, is 8-5 with a 5.34 ERA in 16 road starts.

Morton defeated Boston in his last start after giving up two runs and seven hits over five innings, marking the fourth straight turn in which he pitched five or fewer innings. The 34-year-old All-Star is 3-1 with a 3.63 ERA in eight outings since the break after going 11-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 19 starts prior to the Midsummer Classic. Morton is 4-1 with a 3.77 ERA in eight career turns against the Diamondbacks, including a no-decision on May 5 in which he allowed three runs and three hits over five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Diamondbacks RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm) will miss the remainder of the season while LHP T.J. McFarland (elbow) has a chance of returning before it ends.

2. Houston RHP Brad Peacock (hand, foot and mouth disease) was cleared to resume baseball activities and could return to action sometime next week.

3. Arizona SS Nick Ahmed is 4-for-7 with three doubles and one RBI over his last two contests.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 7, Astros 5