Padres on deck: AL West-leading Astros in town to start final homestand

San Diego Padres look to continue their strong play against the Astros

The San Diego Padres will host the AL West-leading Houston Astros for a three-game series starting Monday at Petco Park. The Padres are coming off a 4-2 road trip against the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, while the Astros are 6-4 in their last 10 games.

The Padres are currently 71-54, second in the NL West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros are 82-43, one game ahead of the Texas Rangers in the AL West.

Padres-Astros pitching matchups

Monday: RHP Joe Musgrove (10-7, 3.03 ERA) vs. RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (10-4, 3.16 ERA)
Tuesday: LHP Blake Snell (8-7, 3.66 ERA) vs. RHP Cristian Javier (10-9, 3.21 ERA)
Wednesday: RHP Mike Clevinger (5-6, 4.07 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Garcia (12-8, 4.29 ERA)

Padres offense heating up

The Padres’ offense has been clicking lately, averaging 5.8 runs per game over their last 10 games. Manny Machado is leading the way with a .333 batting average and 24 home runs, while Jake Cronenworth is hitting .322 with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs.

Astros offense still strong

The Astros’ offense has been one of the best in the AL all season, averaging 4.9 runs per game. Jose Altuve is hitting .317 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs, while Alex Bregman is hitting .285 with 23 home runs and 83 RBIs.

Bullpens key for both teams

The bullpens for both teams will be key in this series. The Padres’ bullpen has a 3.72 ERA, while the Astros’ bullpen has a 3.57 ERA. Both teams have been using their bullpens heavily lately, so it will be important for them to get strong performances from their relievers.

Series prediction

The Padres and Astros are two of the best teams in their respective leagues, so this series is sure to be a close one. The Padres have the home-field advantage, but the Astros have the better overall record. I predict the Astros will win the series 2-1.