Houston @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2011 ) Houston 5, Arizona 8
If the Arizona Diamondbacks are going to get back into the playoff picture, they can't afford to squander opportunities - like blowing a six-run lead in Thursday's loss at Cincinnati - and they have to take advantage of six remaining games against the Houston Astros, who enter the teams' weekend series with the worst record in the majors. The Astros have lost 16 of their last 18, a trend the Diamondbacks hope to continue as they try to chip away at the seven-game gap separating them from National League West leader San Francisco.
Astros right-hander Bud Norris will try to earn his first win in nearly two months against an Arizona team that has hit him hard. He is 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA in four starts against the Diamondbacks, which is emblematic of Houston's struggles against Arizona. The Diamondbacks have won the season series from the Astros five straight years and are 24-12 against Houston during that span.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Houston, Fox Sports Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (5-7, 4.70 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (7-8, 3.71)
Norris has lost his last six starts, including all three since coming off the disabled list. Since returning from the DL, he is 0-3 with a 4.26 ERA and has allowing 17 hits and 10 walks in 19 innings. He last won May 21 against the Cubs, when he tossed seven scoreless innings to improve to 5-1.
The 24-year-old Cahill has lost three of his last four starts since having a four-start win streak snapped late last month. He gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings Sunday at Wrigley Field but didn't get much support in a 3-1 loss to the Cubs. After allowing just three home runs in his first 13 starts, Cahill has surrendered eight long balls in his last five outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Current Diamondbacks players are a collective 22-for-56 (.393) with four homers against Norris. Arizona OF Justin Upton is 3-for-3 with a home run, and Ryan Roberts is 4-for-11 with a homer.
2. The Astros have scored 13 runs in seven games since the All-Star break and are hitting .159 as a team during that span.
3. Diamondbacks 2B Aaron Hill, who extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games Thursday, has never faced Norris.