Diamondbacks at Astros
Houston Astros sparkplug Jose Altuve has recorded multi-hit performances in three of his last four contests and six in his last 10 heading into the finale of a four-game interleague series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon. The two-time American League batting champion is hitting a major league-best .364 for the Astros, who have won three of their last four overall and 11 of 13 interleague contests.
Yuli Gurriel recorded his second straight multi-hit effort in Wednesday's 9-5 victory over the Diamondbacks to improve to 23-for-64 in his last 15 contests. While Houston holds a 12 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West, Arizona fell for the eighth time in 11 contests to see its lead over Milwaukee dip to four games in the race for the second wild card in the National League. Paul Goldschmidt launched a two-run blast on Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to six games, during which he is 7-for-20 with three homers, five RBIs and five runs scored. Former Astro J.D. Martinez also went deep on Wednesday and looks to continue his success versus Thursday starter Mike Fiers, against whom he is 6-for-11 with two blasts in his career.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (9-11, 4.52 ERA) vs. Astros RH Mike Fiers (7-7, 4.36)
Corbin bounced back from two disastrous starts by registering a stellar one on Saturday, scattering five hits and striking out eight over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 6-2 triumph versus the Chicago Cubs. The 28-year-old has struggled away from the desert, however, posting a 2-8 record and 6.79 ERA on the road as opposed to a 7-3 mark and 2.87 ERA at Chase Field. Corbin also has sputtered in small sample sizes versus the Astros, with George Springer (3-for-3, homer, four RBIs) leading the way against him.
Fiers has answered a brilliant stretch during which he went 6-2 by posting an 0-3 record and 8.41 ERA over his last four starts. The 32-year-old's woes continued on Saturday as he yielded a season high-tying six runs for the second time in three trips to the mound in an 8-3 setback at Texas. Fiers has surrendered six homers in three starts in August after allowing just four in the previous two months combined.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona RF David Peralta (paternity list) will be back in the lineup Thursday after taking the full three days to be with his wife following the birth of the couple's first child, a daughter.
2. Houston RHP Joe Musgrove has not allowed a run in 8 1/3 innings this month.
3. Diamondbacks CF A.J. Pollock is 8-for-56 with 12 strikeouts in August.