Game: San Diego Padres @ Houston Astros
Time: 8:10 p.m.
Odds: Padres +138, Astros -139
Total: 8.5
The Houston Astros usually save their sending of messages for the postseason. This is an organization that has made six straight trips to the ALCS and has won two World Series during that time frame. However, Houston (80-61) made a bold statement this week sweeping a three-game road series against the Texas Rangers. The Astros, who will play the San Diego Padres at home in a three-game interleague series beginning tonight, defeated Texas by a combined 39-10 and blasted 16 home runs in the process. As a result, the Astros own sole possession of first place in the AL West for the first time this season.
Houston still has work to do to claim the division title or even earn a playoff berth. The AL West is the most contested division race in MLB. The Astros lead Seattle by half a game and Houston is three games ahead of Texas. The AL wild-card race is heated as well with Tampa Bay, Seattle, Toronto, Texas, and even Boston with a shot at making the playoffs.
The Astros are set to start rookie right-hander Hunter Brown (10-10, 4.53 ERA) in the first game of the series. Over his last six outings (five starts), he has alternated wins and losses, posting a 3-3 record, a 6.31 ERA, and a .952 opponent OPS. After going 5-1 to open the season, Brown has dropped nine of last 14 decisions, has a 5.56 ERA, and has given up 15 home runs in 15 outings. This will be Brown’s first career start against San Diego
For the Padres on Friday, left-hander Blake Snell (12-9, 2.50) will get the start. In addition to leading the National League in ERA, opponent batting average (.191), and opponent OPS (.611), Snell also sits second in swing and miss rate (37.0) and strikeouts (201) and is a major contender for the National League Cy Young Award. But, he also has the most walks (89) and wild pitches (12) in MLB. Over his last eight starts, Snell is 6-1 with a 2.11 ERA.
Snell has faced the Astros seven times in his career, going 2-3 with a 6.11 ERA. Snell lost 7-4 on the road in his last start against Houston on May 30, 2021. He allowed seven runs on five hits, three walks, and three strikeouts over three innings.
The Padres (66-75) lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 at home on Wednesday to cap a stretch of 34 straight games dating back to the first of August. When catcher Gary Sanchez was struck by a pitch in the eighth inning, he ended up with a fractured right wrist. Over 72 games, Sanchez hit 19 home runs and had an OPS+ of 117. Due to the injury, he will miss the remainder of the season.
The Padres aren’t too far behind the New York Mets as MLB’s most disappointing team in terms of preseason expectations in 2023. Before the start of this season, the Padres appeared to have a lineup full of solid bats and a pitching rotation built for the World Series. Unfortunately, it hasn’t panned out for San Diego.
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