Astros at Diamondbacks
Losers of three straight for the first time this season, the Arizona Diamondbacks face another tough pitching matchup Saturday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Houston Astros. Charlie Morton gets the start for Houston, one night after Gerrit Cole threw a one-hitter and struck out a career-high 16 in the Astros’ 8-0 victory.
Yuli Gurriel had four hits and three RBIs while Carlos Correa doubled twice and drove in three for the American League West-leading Astros, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Gurriel struggled early this season after playing in just one spring training game and spending time on the disabled list, but the first baseman is heating up with 10 hits during his six-game hitting streak, raising his average from .220 to .280 during that stretch. The Diamondbacks have won nine of their first 10 series despite injuries to Jake Lamb (shoulder) and starting pitchers Robbie Ray (oblique) and Taijuan Walker, who is out for the year with a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. Outfielder Steven Souza Jr. (strained right pectoral) made his season debut Thursday and is expected to be in the lineup Saturday after being given a scheduled day off Friday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Charlie Morton (4-0, 1.72 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (3-2, 4.50)
Morton continued to impress by holding the New York Yankees to one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts through 7 2/3 innings in last Monday's 2-1 victory. The 34-year-old has won each of his last seven decisions dating back to Sept. 15, 2017, posting a 1.80 ERA in nine starts over that stretch. Paul Goldschmidt has three hits in 12 at-bats against Morton, who is 4-1 with a 3.57 ERA in seven career starts against Arizona, including six-plus innings in a victory on Aug. 16, 2017.
Greinke bounced back from a rocky outing against Philadelphia by striking out 10 and holding the Los Angeles Dodgers to two runs over six innings in last Monday’s 8-5 victory. The four-time All-Star is 15-1 in his last 20 starts at Chase Field. Jose Altuve is 9-for-21 with a home run against Greinke, who is 6-2 with a 2.31 ERA in nine career starts against the Astros, including 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 2-0 home victory on Aug. 14, 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks are 16-1 when scoring four or more runs.
2. Houston has outscored its opponents 55-6 during its seven-game road winning streak.
3. Arizona optioned RHP Silvino Bracho to Triple-A Reno to make room for RHP Kris Medlen, who started Friday’s series opener.