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D-backs, Astros Clash in Crucial Interleague Series
4 Sep
Summary
- Arizona holds a slim lead in the NL Wild Card race.
- Houston's Yordan Alvarez is a strong contender for the AL Triple Crown.
- The two teams have a history of close, competitive games.
- Key starting pitchers face off in pivotal matchups throughout the weekend.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are heading to Houston for a crucial three-game interleague series against the Astros, beginning Friday, September 4. Arizona (74-67) is currently holding onto the third NL Wild Card spot by a half-game. The Astros (72-69) maintain a 2.5-game lead in the AL West.
This series boasts significant star power. Houston's Yordan Alvarez is in contention for the AL Triple Crown, leading in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. For the Diamondbacks, Corbin Carroll is nearing a "20/20/20/20" season, and Ketel Marte has returned from the injured list.
Starting pitching matchups are set to be compelling. Friday features Merrill Kelly against Cristian Javier. Saturday pits Brandon Pfaadt against rookie Ethan Pecko. Sunday's finale will see Eduardo Rodriguez take the mound for Arizona against Peter Lambert for Houston.
Both bullpens are considered middle-of-the-pack, though Arizona's high-leverage relievers have performed strongly. Josh Hader remains a dominant closer for the D-backs. The Astros are using a closer-by-committee approach.
