Set your calendars for September 7, 2024, as the Arizona Diamondbacks head to Minute Maid Park to take on the Houston Astros at 4:10 PM under clear skies. Pitching for the Diamondbacks will be Eduardo Rodriguez, who currently holds an ERA of 5.329, while the Astros will counter with Yusei Kikuchi, whose ERA stands at 4.241.

In a glimpse at the standings within the NL West Division for 2024, the Diamondbacks are in fifth place with a record of 79-63, reflecting a winning percentage of .556. They have a divisional record of 25-18, placing them third in the division. The Diamondbacks’ recent performance indicates a struggle, with four wins in their last 10 games and a current two-game losing streak. Their home and away records are nearly balanced with 39-31 and 40-32, respectively. The team shines brighter under the lights with a stronger record in night games at 51 wins, compared to 28 in day games, with an overall score of 765 runs scored against 679 allowed.

On the other hand, the Astros, who are also fifth in the AL West Division, have secured a record of 76-65, translating to a .539 winning percentage. They lead their division with a 21-18 record. Houston has found a bit of form lately, winning six of their last 10 matches and holding a home record of 40-29 versus an even 36-36 on the road. They’ve amassed 644 runs while allowing 557.

Regarding the betting odds for this matchup, the point spread is set at -1.5, with an over/under of 8.0 runs. The money line odds are set at -167 for the Astros as the home team favorite, and +142 for the Diamondbacks as the underdogs. These odds suggest a slight tilt towards the Astros, indicating a potentially closer and competitive game expected by odds makers.