The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Houston Astros meet Friday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Houston Astros vs Arizona Diamondbacks prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Astros vs Diamondbacks pick.
Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview
The Diamondbacks played the San Francisco Giants in their last set. Arizona won 8-7 in the opener then in game two the Diamondbacks took another win 6-4. In the Thursday finale, Arizona took a 3-2 loss. Merrill Kelly finished with 7.0 innings and two earned in the start.
In the starter slot for Friday’s game, the Diamondbacks are going with Brandon Pfaadt. So far Pfaadt is 9-7 with a 4.32 ERA in 27 starts. Pfaadt is 12-16 with a 4.85 ERA in 46 career games (45 starts).
Houston Astros Betting Preview
Over on the Astros’ side, they took on the Cincinnati Reds this week. Houston lost the opener 5-3 then in game two lost again 12-5. On Thursday the Astros took a tough 1-0 loss. Hunter Brown had a nice start with 6.0 innings, no earned, four hits, one walk, and six Ks.
As starting pitcher for Friday the Astros will send out Framber Valdez. This year Valdez is 13-6 with a 3.11 ERA in 24 starts. Over 153 career games (131 starts) Valdez is 66-40 with a 3.35 ERA.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Diamondbacks’ last six night games after playing the previous day has gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the last four games between the Diamondbacks and Astros at Minute Maid Park has gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last six home games against National League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last four road games.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Framber Valdez has recorded a win in eight of his last nine appearances with the Astros as favorites.
- Yainer Diaz has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Astros’ last eight home games against NL opponents.
- Framber Valdez has recorded seven or more strikeouts in each of his last six home appearances.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances with the Astros as home favorites.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one Single in each of his last six appearances in night games against teams that held a winning record.
- Kyle Tucker has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances against NL West opponents.
- Alex Bregman has hit a home run in three of the Astros’ last four games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- Yainer Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Astros’ last four games as home favorites against NL opponents.
Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts
- Brandon Pfaadt has recorded six or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances.
- Corbin Carroll has recorded at least one hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last 13 games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Gabriel Moreno has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven appearances in night games.
- Corbin Carroll has scored at least one run in each of the Diamondbacks’ last 15 night games.
- Ketel Marte has hit a home run in each of his last four appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Corbin Carroll has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Diamondbacks’ last six night games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Geraldo Perdomo has recorded a Double in four of his last five appearances with the Diamondbacks as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Brandon Pfaadt has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances.
- Corbin Carroll has recorded at least one total base in each of the Diamondbacks’ last 13 games against opponents that held a winning record.
Houston Astros vs Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction
I’ll lean toward Houston. Valdez has been pretty good over his last trio, despite taking a loss to the Orioles on August 24. In those three Valdez is 1-1 with three earned (all in the loss) over 19.2 innings. As for Pfaadt, he’s got 13 earned over his last 15.2 innings, going 2-1 in that time.
In Thursday’s game the Astros couldn’t get the bats going on just four team hits—two from Jeremy Pena. The good news is that the pitching staff was solid with just one run. Houston’s on a three-game losing streak right now, so they could use a good performance Friday.