Houston Astros vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions September 6th 2024

At 8:10 PM ET, the Diamondbacks and Astros face off in an interleague matchup. This one is being played at Minute Maid Park in Houston, and the Astros are the heavy favorites on the money line, with their odds sitting at -159. The Diamondbacks are +133 on the money line, and they are 3rd in the NL West.

Friday’s forecast in Houston calls for thunderstorms, with temperatures in the mid-80s. Brandon Pfaadt is starting for the Diamondbacks, and he is facing off against Framber Valdez. The Astros are 75-65, while the Diamondbacks come in with a record of 79-62.

Through 27 starts, Brandon Pfaadt has a record of 9-7 and an ERA of 4.32. This year, he has turned in 12 quality starts and is averaging 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings. Pfaadt’s WHIP for the season is 1.19. In his last outing, he picked up the win, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs on 10 hits. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight outings. The right-hander has been much better at home, coming in with a 6-3 record and 4.37 ERA compared to 3-4 with a 4.48 ERA on the road.

Arizona comes into the game as the league’s top-scoring offense, averaging 5.4 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.6 runs per contest. Overall, they are the league’s top team in terms of on-base percentage and are 2nd in team batting average. As a team, they are also among the league leaders in slugging percentage and OPS.

Ketel Marte has been the team’s top power threat this season, as his 30 home runs are the best on the team and 10th in the league. He is also 2nd on the team with 81 RBIs and has a batting average of .298. Eugenio Suarez has also been a big power threat, with 24 homers, which is 15th in the league. He is also 11th in the MLB with 87 RBIs.

Framber Valdez will be looking to build off his last outing, where he didn’t allow a run. Against the Royals on August 30th, he went seven innings, giving up just three hits and three walks. Valdez finished with a no-decision in that outing. Leading up to that start, he had given up at least one earned run in four straight outings. Valdez’s ERA for the season is 3.11, along with a record of 13-6. Opponents are batting .221 off the left-hander this season. Valdez has one complete game and 14 quality starts this year.

Yordan Alvarez has been the Astros’ top hitter this season, as he is batting .309 with a team-leading 30 home runs and 73 RBIs. Yainer Diaz has also been a big run producer for the Astros, as he is batting .297 with 16 homers and a team-leading 78 RBIs. Jose Altuve has also been a key contributor for the Astros, hitting .294 with 18 homers.

As a team, the Astros are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 13th in the league. They have been a good home run hitting team this season and have the league’s 3rd best team batting average. Houston comes into the game with a team batting average of .260.

Astros Begin Critical Homestand Against Diamondbacks as Playoff Race Intensifies

After a tough sweep by the Cincinnati Reds, the Houston Astros are back home for a vital six-game homestand, starting with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. With the regular season nearing its end, the Astros are fighting to regain their momentum and hold off the surging Seattle Mariners in the AL West race, while the Diamondbacks continue to push for a postseason spot in the National League.

Astros Looking to Bounce Back

The Astros (75-65) were flying high after sweeping the Kansas City Royals in four straight games, sitting a season-best 13 games over .500 and comfortably ahead in the AL West. But a rough series against Cincinnati has tightened the division race, leaving Houston in need of a rebound.

The Astros’ offense struggled in Cincinnati, going just 5-for-23 with runners in scoring position. The absence of key slugger Kyle Tucker, who’s been sidelined since June with a shin fracture, has hurt Houston’s lineup. However, there’s optimism that Tucker could return this weekend, which would provide a significant boost to their offense.

Framber Valdez Takes the Mound

To help stop the skid, the Astros will turn to their reliable left-hander Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.11 ERA). Valdez has been one of the cornerstones of Houston’s rotation, and while he didn’t factor into the decision in his last start, he was electric, throwing seven no-hit innings with seven strikeouts against the Royals.

Valdez has been consistently strong, posting a 2.39 ERA over his last 10 starts and winning eight of those outings. He’ll look to continue his dominance against Arizona, a team he hasn’t faced since 2022, when he allowed just one run over three innings.

Diamondbacks’ Road Success and Playoff Push

The Diamondbacks (79-62) are coming off a series split against the San Francisco Giants, capped by a 3-2 walk-off loss on Thursday. Despite the setback, Arizona has been one of the best teams on the road this season, boasting a 40-31 record away from home. They’re aiming to finish more than 10 games above .500 on the road for the first time since 1999, a testament to their resilience as they chase a wild-card spot.

Arizona has been red hot, winning 12 of their last 15 series, and they’ll look to keep their momentum going as they visit Houston. With their offense clicking in recent weeks, they remain a formidable opponent for any team, especially with playoff aspirations on the line.

Brandon Pfaadt Looks to Keep Winning

Arizona will counter with right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (9-7, 4.32 ERA), who has been riding a winning streak of five consecutive decisions. While Pfaadt’s 5.90 ERA during that stretch shows he’s had some struggles, he has been able to pitch effectively enough to get results. In his last outing, he struck out 10 batters over 5 2/3 innings in a 14-3 win over the Dodgers.

This will be Pfaadt’s first career start against the Astros, and he’s hoping to build on his recent success. Over his past nine outings, he’s gone 6-1 with a 4.58 ERA, although interleague play has been a challenge for him, with a 5.56 ERA in 13 starts against American League teams.

What’s at Stake

Both teams are facing high stakes as they head into this series. For the Astros, it’s about maintaining their grip on the AL West and improving their playoff seeding. The potential return of Kyle Tucker could provide the spark they need to get back on track. On the other side, the Diamondbacks are battling to solidify their position in the NL wild-card race, and their strong road performance could give them an edge.

With both teams looking to make deep postseason runs, this series could have major implications as the playoff race continues to heat up. Every game matters from here on out, and neither team can afford to slip up.

There should be no shortage of offense in today’s Diamondbacks and Astros game, and not only are we leaning towards the Astros picking up a win, but we like the over as well. Framber Valdez is our 3rd ranked starter of the day in terms of innings pitched, and Brandon Pfaadt is projected to have a short outing for the Diamondbacks. Look for the Astros to come out on top in this one.