Arizona @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2018 ) Arizona 4, Houston 10

The Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks are both fighting for division titles, but only one is in a position of some security. The Diamondbacks will try to make up ground in the National League West at the expense of the Astros when they visit for the rubber match of a three-game interleague series on Sunday.

Arizona (78-71) is chasing Colorado and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and lost ground with a sloppy 10-4 loss on Saturday, falling four games behind the Dodgers for the division lead and 3 1/2 back of the Rockies for the second NL wild card. The Diamondbacks, who took the series opener 4-2 on Friday, are stumbling at the wrong time with losses in six of their last eight and committed a pair of errors in Saturday's 10-4 setback. Houston (93-55) increased its lead in the American League West to 3 1/2 games over Oakland with Saturday's win and is streaking in the opposite direction with wins in 11 of the last 13 contests. The Astros will try to keep it rolling on Sunday behind ace Justin Verlander while Arizona counters with right-hander Zack Greinke.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, TBS, FS Arizona, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (14-9, 3.11 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (15-9, 2.72)

Greinke did his part in the NL West race Tuesday, when he allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings to earn a win at Colorado. The former Cy Young Award winner, who is up to a career-high 27 home runs allowed, did not surrender a blast in that outing. Greinke gave up a solo homer to George Springer against Houston at home on May 5 but did not surrender another run across 5 2/3 innings while not factoring in the decision.

Verlander is turning it on down the stretch and earned the win in his last two starts while allowing a total of three runs and nine hits in 14 innings against Minnesota and Detroit. The former MVP struck out 18 across those two turns and ranks second in the AL to teammate Gerrit Cole (260) with 258. Verlander scattered two runs - one earned - and three hits across six innings at Arizona on May 6 but suffered the loss in a 3-1 final.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Diamondbacks officially shut down RHP Clay Buchholz (elbow) for the season by placing him on the 60-day disabled list Saturday.

2. Springer went 4-for-5 with three runs scored on Saturday and has scored 12 times in his last nine games.

3. Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is scheduled to throw again Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Diamondbacks 1