Diamondbacks visit the Astros to open 3-game series
Arizona Diamondbacks (74-67, second in the NL West) vs. Houston Astros (72-69, first in the AL West)
Houston; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (9-12, 5.08 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 95 strikeouts); Astros: Cristian Javier (1-5, 6.45 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 42 strikeouts)
LINE: Astros -137, Diamondbacks +112; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday to begin a three-game series.
Houston has a 36-36 record in home games and a 72-69 record overall. The Astros have a 36-16 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.
Arizona is 74-67 overall and 33-36 in road games. The Diamondbacks have the eighth-ranked team ERA in the NL at 4.16.
The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 37 home runs while slugging .602. Jeremy Pena is 9 for 40 with three home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.
Ketel Marte has 23 doubles, three triples and 21 home runs for the Diamondbacks. Jordan Lawlar is 9 for 28 with three home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 7-3, .214 batting average, 3.58 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs
Diamondbacks: 5-5, .213 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored by 10 runs
INJURIES: Astros: Mike Burrows: 15-Day IL (elbow), Brice Matthews: 60-Day IL (knee), Carlos Correa: 60-Day IL (ankle), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Diamondbacks: Tommy Troy: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Corbin Burnes: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ryne Nelson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ryan Thompson: 60-Day IL (back), Mike Soroka: 15-Day IL (arm), Zac Gallen: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Puk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Mena: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Andrew Saalfrank: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
