Houston Astros (81-68, first in AL West) vs. San Diego Padres (85-65, second in NL West)

San Diego; Monday, 9:40 p.m. EDT

The Houston Astros and San Diego Padres kick off a three-game series on Monday night, with both teams vying to solidify their postseason positioning. Houston sits atop the AL West with an 81-68 record, while San Diego is in second place in the NL West at 85-65.

Pitching probables

• Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (7-12, 4.72 ERA, 158 strikeouts)
  Arrighetti has shown flashes of brilliance but has been inconsistent throughout the season. He'll need to be sharp against a Padres lineup that has been surging in September.
• Padres: Yu Darvish (5-3, 3.52 ERA, 62 strikeouts)
  Darvish has been reliable for San Diego and comes into the game with a solid 1.14 WHIP. He’s looking to build on his strong recent form and provide the Padres with a quality start.

Team outlook

• Astros: Houston has been solid on the road, holding a 39-36 record away from Minute Maid Park. Their offense has been potent, ranking eighth in MLB with a .419 slugging percentage. Key players like Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz will look to stay hot and lead the team in this important series.
• Padres: San Diego has been dominant when out-hitting their opponents, boasting a 68-20 record in such games. Their home record stands at 40-35, and they'll look to capitalize on that advantage in this series. Jurickson Profar and Luis Arraez have been key contributors for the Padres' offense, and they’ll be instrumental in taking on Houston’s pitching staff.

Recent form

• Padres (6-4 in their last 10 games): They have been hitting well, posting a .267 average with a 3.07 team ERA over this stretch, outscoring their opponents by 15 runs.
• Astros (6-4 in their last 10 games): Houston is swinging the bats even better, hitting .289 over their last 10, with a 3.72 team ERA and a positive run differential of 14.

This series will be crucial as both teams push toward the playoffs. Expect a competitive matchup in the series opener.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Padres -136, Astros +115; over/under 8 runs.

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*ChatGPT aided with this article.