Arizona @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2024 ) Arizona 5, Houston 11
One game after Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez produced multi-hit games to spur an eruption from atop the lineup, that duo did so again to help the Houston Astros cruise to an 11-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday and clinch this three-game interleague series.
Altuve and Alvarez finished a combined 5-for-8 with four runs and seven RBIs in an 8-0 win in the series opener. Both recorded three-hit games Saturday as the Astros (77-65) extended their home winning streak to six games and set the table for a series sweep in the finale against the Diamondbacks (79-64) on Sunday.
Crucial to the production offered by Altuve and Alvarez in the first two spots in the order was the handiwork from the last four hitters in the lineup. Victor Caratini, Jake Meyers, Ben Gamel and Chas McCormick combined for five runs, three hits, two RBIs and two walks to set the table for the big bats atop the order and make life miserable for the Diamondbacks' beleaguered staff.
"That creates opportunity for Altuve and Yordan to come up with people on base," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "Instead of them creating their own opportunities to drive each other in, just getting people on base keeps the line moving and it trickles down. And now you find yourself scoring 10, 11 runs.
"We've seen that in our offense in the past. If we get that clicking right now, in September, and get some production from those guys at the bottom consistently, it's perfect. It's what we want."
Houston right-hander Justin Verlander (3-5, 4.52 ERA) will make his fourth start Sunday since returning from the injured list.
Verlander is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA and has yet to recapture his form since missing 54 games with neck discomfort. He has only 12 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings since rejoining the rotation and had just three strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday while surrendering five runs on eight hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings in a 5-3 loss.
Verlander is 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA over seven career starts against the Diamondbacks. In his previous start against them, Verlander threw five scoreless innings while allowing two hits and three walks with five strikeouts in the Astros' 1-0 road victory on Sept. 30, 2023.
Right-hander Ryne Nelson (10-6, 4.15 ERA) will start the series finale as Arizona attempts to avert a sweep.
Nelson is unbeaten over his last 12 appearances (11 starts), going 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA. He allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with a season-high-tying nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in an 8-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.
Nelson will make his first career start against the Astros. He worked an inning of scoreless relief against them on Oct. 1, 2023, recording a strikeout in Arizona's 8-1 home loss.
The Diamondbacks dropped their third consecutive road game after winning three consecutive road series before arriving in Houston. Averting a series sweep is the foremost goal for Arizona after absorbing two deflating losses in succession.
"If I could say something to them right now it's we're going to be OK," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "But we've got to go out and play our game and do things the way we can. Not get sidetracked, not get distracted. Focus, lock it in, commit and go 1-0 today. That's been our mindset every single day."
--Field Level Media