Arizona Diamondbacks vs Houston Astros Prediction MLB Picks 9/8/24

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Houston Astros meet Sunday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Arizona Diamondbacks will send out Ryne Nelson for the start here and Nelson is 10-6 with a 4.15 ERA and 121 strikeouts this season. This will be Nelson’s first career start against the Astros. The Houston Astros will send out Justin Verlander here and Verlander is 3-5 with a 4.52 ERA and 63 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Diamondbacks, Verlander is 3-1 with a 1.74 ERA and 39 strikeouts.

Arizona Diamondbacks Recap

The Arizona Diamondbacks will come into this one hoping to salvage something from this series after taking one on the chin in Saturday’s loss by a final score of 11-5. The series loss for Arizona meant that the Diamondbacks would be unable to build on their series win over the Giants to start the week.

Diamondbacks Trying To Secure NL Wild Card Spot

Ketel Marte leads the Diamondbacks with 130 hits in addition to a .293 batting average and 20 doubles with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also has 17 home runs and 70 RBIs as well this season. Corbin Carroll has a team-high 26 stolen bases, 12 triples, 19 home runs and 66 RBIs while Eugenio Suarez has 25 home runs, a team-high 88 RBIs and 150 strikeouts this season. Christian Walker also has 23 home runs with 73 RBIs of his own in addition to 119 strikeouts this season.

Why the Arizona Diamondbacks will win

• The Diamondbacks have won six of their last eight games as underdogs against American League opponents.
• The Astros have lost each of their last four night games against the Diamondbacks following a home win.
• The Astros have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight Sunday night home games.
• The Diamondbacks have covered the run line in five of their last six night games at Minute Maid Park following a road loss.

Houston Astros Recap

The Houston Astros come into this one looking to build on their series win over the Diamondbacks thanks to their triumph in Saturday’s matchup. The series win would help Arizona bounce back from a series loss to the Reds in a sweep earlier in the week.

Astros Looking To Secure AL West

Jose Altuve has 169 hits and a .300 batting average with 19 home runs, 59 RBIs and 26 doubles while Yordan Alvarez also has 32 homers with 80 RBIs and 31 doubles. Altuve has the Astros’ team lead with 20 stolen bases so far this season. Jeremy Pena also has 144 hits and a .270 batting average as well as 16 stolen bases of his own this season. Alex Bregman’s added 21 homers and 63 RBIs and 27 doubles also.

Why the Houston Astros will win

• The home team has won each of the Astros’ last nine games.
• The Diamondbacks have lost each of their last six night games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• The home team has covered the run line in each of the Astros’ last seven games.
• The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the run line each of their last six night games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.

Diamondbacks vs. Astros Prediction

I get how easy it could be to just take the Astros given what we’ve seen in this series, but Justin Verlander looks very un-Verlanderlike in his recent outings, giving up 4 runs in a start more often than not while the Diamondbacks continue to hit right-handed pitching well and I think that the Diamondbacks can salvage something from this series on Sunday night. Give me Arizona.