Pitching matchups for the Diamondbacks-Astros series in Houston

Diamondbacks at Astros

When: 5:10 p.m., Wednesday.

Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (12-3, 2.46) vs. Astros RHP Justin Verlander (17-4, 1.82).

TV/Radio: Bally Sports Arizona/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Gallen is coming off perhaps the best start of his career, establishing career highs in innings pitched (eight) and strikeouts (13). He gave up just one run on two hits, walking none vs. the Dodgers in Los Angeles. … Since Aug. 8, he has allowed just six runs in 60 2/3 innings (0.89 ERA) with 11 walks and 74 strikeouts. … He has faced the Astros three times, most recently last season, giving up four runs in six innings in a start at Minute Maid Park. … Despite missing most of the past two seasons, Verlander, 39, has turned in yet another dominant season. … Verlander missed a few weeks with a right calf injury but has made two starts since returning, giving up two runs in 11 innings. … 2B Ketel Marte is 2 for 10 with one double and one walk against Verlander in his career.

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Coming up

Thursday: Off.

Friday: At San Francisco, 7:15 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (13-7, 3.13) vs. Giants RHP Alex Cobb (6-7, 3.67).

Saturday: At San Francisco, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (3-4, 5.98) vs. Giants TBA.

Sunday: At San Francisco, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Drey Jameson (2-0, 0.98) vs. Giants RHP Logan Webb (14-9, 2.93).

Diamondbacks at Astros

When: 5:10 p.m., Tuesday.

Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (2-4, 4.03) vs. Astros RHP Lance McCullers (4-1, 2.38).

TV/Radio: Bally Sports Arizona/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Davies labored through three innings in Los Angeles on Tuesday, needing 79 pitches but managing to hold the Dodgers to just one run despite five hits and two walks. … He has faced the Astros just once in his career, giving up just two runs in eight innings in a start in 2020. … IF Aledmys Diaz (5 for 11) and 2B Jose Altuve (3 for 4) have had success against Davies in the past. … McCullers has made seven starts this season since returning from a flexor tendon strain in his right forearm. He has given up exactly two runs in each of his past four starts, posting a 2.81 ERA over 25 2/3 innings over that stretch. … He gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings the last time he faced the Diamondbacks in a start in September 2021.

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Coming up

Wednesday: At Houston, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (12-3, 2.46) vs. Astros RHP Justin Verlander (17-4, 1.82).

Thursday: Off.

Friday: At San Francisco, 7:15 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (13-7, 3.13) vs. Giants RHP Alex Cobb (6-7, 3.67).

Saturday: At San Francisco, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (3-4, 5.98) vs. Giants TBA.

Up next

Houston Astros

Astros update: The Astros beat the Orioles, 6-3, in 11 innings on Sunday to salvage a split of a four-game series and increase their lead in the American League West to a season-high-tying 17 games. At 101-53, the Astros own the second-best record in the majors behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (106-47). The Astros are eighth in the majors at 4.57 runs per game. They have the second-best staff ERA at 2.92. DH Yordan Alvarez, whom the Astros gave a six-year, $115 million extension in June, is having a monster year, hitting .303/.407/.614 with 37 homers in 446 at-bats. 2B Jose Altuve is hitting .294/.384/.516 in what has been his best season since 2017, the year he won the AL MVP. RHP Justin Verlander is a candidate to win the AL Cy Young. He has a 1.82 ERA but has made just 26 starts, which could be the difference between him and White Sox RHP Dylan Cease, who has a 2.06 ERA in 31 starts. The Astros’ rotation has posted a 3.00 ERA, second only to the Dodgers (2.75).

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pitching matchups for the Diamondbacks-Astros series in Houston