The Houston Astros and the Arizona Diamondbacks meet Sunday in MLB action from Chase Field. This will be the final game of the regular season. Houston eked out a win in the Friday opener, then in game two the Astros kept it rolling with another close victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Houston Astros 

The Astros scored both their runs in the sixth inning during the Friday opener of this set, eventually powering out a 2-1 win. On Saturday Houston posted six team hits in a tense 1-0 win. Jose Abreu posted the lone RBI, and Kyle Tucker plated the run. Justin Verlander lasted 5.0 innings with two hits and three walks in the starting role. 

Houston is sending out Cristian Javier in the starter role for Sunday’s finale, Javier is 9-5 with a  4.73 ERA and 155 Ks. 

Houston Astros Team Facts

The Astros have won each of their last eight day games against National League opponents following a win.
The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last seven day games against National League opponents.
The Astros have lost the first inning in each of their last five Sunday games against opponents that held a winning record.
The Astros have led after 3 innings in each of their last five day games against National League opponents.
The Astros have led after 5 innings in each of their last eight day games against National League opponents.

Arizona Diamondbacks 

Over on the Diamondbacks’ side, they posted just four hits in the Friday loss. The lone RBI came from Gabriel Moreno in the ninth. On Saturday Arizona got one hit from five different players and couldn’t cash in on anything. Merrill Kelly (7.0 innings; one earned) had a good start wasted. 

The Diamondbacks will go with Kyle Nelson in the starting role Sunday. This season Nelson is 7-3 with a 3.88 ERA and 66 Ks. 

Arizona Diamondbacks Team Facts

The Diamondbacks have lost eight of their last nine day games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the run line eight of their last nine day games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
The Diamondbacks have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last four home games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last six games between the Astros and Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
The Diamondbacks have led after 3 innings in each of their last four home day games.

Matchup/League Facts

The Arizona Diamondbacks rank 1st in the league for triples this season (44).
The Arizona Diamondbacks rank 2nd in the league for steals this season (166).
The Houston Astros rank T3rd in the league for hits this season (1432).
The Houston Astros rank 3rd in the league for strikeouts against this season (1232).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll probably take a stab on Arizona in this one. The Diamondbacks really need to get the bats going, though. The bad news is that Arizona has scored just two combined runs over their last three games. That said, the Diamondbacks had scored three or more in four straight prior to that. Arizona is a better offensive team than they’ve been letting on lately. As for Houston, they’re not exactly lighting up the scoreboard lately either with two or fewer runs in three of the last four games. Something’s got to give here, and I think it’s more likely that Arizona fends off the sweep with a better offensive outing.