Series Preview (49 of 52): Astros Visit San Diego

A Look at the Matchup

The Houston Astros, owners of the American League's best record, head to San Diego to face the Padres in a four-game series beginning Thursday. The Astros will be looking to extend their AL West lead, while the Padres will aim to close the gap and stay in the Wild Card race.

Starting Pitching Matchups

Thursday: Framber Valdez (HOU) vs. Joe Musgrove (SD) Friday: Cristian Javier (HOU) vs. Sean Manaea (SD) Saturday: Luis Garcia (HOU) vs. Blake Snell (SD) Sunday: TBD (HOU) vs. Yu Darvish (SD)

Astros Outlook

The Astros have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball all season, posting a 97-46 record. They lead the AL West by 15 games and have a magic number of 10 to clinch the division. The Astros are led by Jose Altuve, who is batting .312 with 19 home runs and 51 RBIs, and Yordan Alvarez, who has 31 home runs and 90 RBIs.

Strengths

* Strong starting rotation: The Astros have one of the best starting rotations in baseball, led by Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and Luis Garcia. * Powerful lineup: The Astros have one of the most potent lineups in baseball, with seven players on pace to hit at least 20 home runs. * Good defense: The Astros have a strong defense, led by shortstop Jeremy Pena, who is a Gold Glove candidate.

Weaknesses

* Bullpen: The Astros' bullpen has been a bit shaky at times, especially in the late innings. * Injuries: The Astros have been dealing with some injuries lately, including to outfielder Michael Brantley and pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.

Padres Outlook

The Padres have been one of the hottest teams in baseball since the All-Star break, going 38-18. They are currently in third place in the NL West, 3.5 games behind the first-place Dodgers. The Padres are led by Manny Machado, who is batting .314 with 29 home runs and 86 RBIs, and Fernando Tatis Jr., who is batting .292 with 26 home runs and 67 RBIs.

Strengths

* Strong offense: The Padres have one of the most powerful offenses in baseball, led by Machado and Tatis Jr. * Good starting rotation: The Padres' starting rotation has been solid all season, led by Joe Musgrove, Sean Manaea, and Blake Snell. * Good defense: The Padres have a good defense, led by shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who is a Gold Glove candidate.

Weaknesses

* Bullpen: The Padres' bullpen has been a bit shaky at times, especially in the late innings. * Injuries: The Padres have been dealing with some injuries lately, including to outfielder Wil Myers and pitcher Mike Clevinger.

Prediction

The Astros are the clear favorites in this series, but the Padres are a dangerous team, especially at home. I think the Astros will win two of the four games, but the Padres will give them a run for their money.