Series Showdown (50 of 52): Astros Face Padres in Crucial Matchup

The Houston Astros are heading to San Diego for a three-game series against the Padres:

This is their first visit of the year, and the last time they played each other was in September last season. In that series, Houston lost the first game but won the next two, with the Astros dominating the final game 12-2. José Altuve hit a home run and drove in three runs, while Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, and Chas McCormick each had two hits. Pitcher J.P. France also had a strong performance, allowing just one run over six innings.

Houston's win in that series last year secured them a winning record for the season. This year, they're just one win away from clinching another winning season, which could happen against the Padres.

The Astros are coming off a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series. They won 5-3 in the first two games and 6-4 in the third game on Sunday. Jason Heyward had a great day with two singles, a home run, and two RBIs. Jeremy Peña also got two hits, though the Astros’ top four hitters went 0-for-16. Ronel Blanco pitched six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, and Josh Hader closed the game with a two-out save after some trouble in the ninth.

The Padres return home after a successful five-game road trip, winning four out of five games. They just swept the San Francisco Giants, winning the final game 4-3 in extra innings on Sunday. Robert Suarez picked up the win, although he blew the save earlier in the game. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a home run, and both Luis Arraez and David Peralta had two hits.

Here’s the schedule for the series with the Padres:

•  Monday at 8:40 PM CT: Spencer Arrighetti (7-12, 4.72) vs. Yu Darvish (5-3, 3.52)
•  Tuesday at 8:40 PM CT: Hunter Brown (11-8, 3.59) vs. Michael King (12-9, 3.06)
• Wednesday at 5:40 PM CT: Framber Valdez (14-6, 2.91) vs. Dylan Cease (13-11, 3.58)

As of now, the Astros are 81-68, leading the AL West by 4.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners. They’re currently ranked 5th in the American League and are very close to clinching a playoff spot with a 97.8% chance of making it.

The Padres are 85-65, sitting in second place in the NL West, three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are ranked 4th in the National League and have a strong 98.5% chance of making the playoffs.

In their recent series against the Angels, some standout performers for the Astros were Ryan Pressly, Ronel Blanco, and Yordan Alvarez. On the other hand, Caleb Ferguson, Ben Gamel, and Yainer Diaz struggled in that series.

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