The finale of their three-game interleague series with the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday will mark the conclusion of a stretch of 13 games in 13 days for the Houston Astros.
The Astros’ 4-3, 10-inning loss on Saturday did not impact their position in the American League West standings, as the Texas Rangers’ home loss to the Tampa Bay Rays allowed Houston to maintain its three-game lead.
Still, with a welcome day off coming on Monday, the Astros are laboring to cap this current stretch on a high note.
“We have 20 games left,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We’re going to be facing some really good teams in September; they’re aware of that. So they know we can rest later. Right now, we’ve got to stay locked in.
“I’m so proud of the way they’re playing. Once the game has started, they have been locked in and playing the game really hard.”
Right-hander Peter Lambert (8-7, 3.66 ERA) is scheduled to start the series rubber match for Houston (73-70).
Lambert did not factor into the decision in a 6-3 win over the Chicago White Sox last Monday, allowing two runs on three hits and a season-high five walks with six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.
Since earning his eighth win on July 11 against Texas, Lambert is 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA across nine starts.
Lambert is 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA in six career appearances (two starts) against Arizona. In his previous appearance against the Diamondbacks on Aug 14, 2024, he allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks with one strikeout over 2 1/3 innings in the Colorado Rockies’ 11-4 loss.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (14-5, 2.59) has the starting assignment for Arizona (75-68) on Sunday.
Rodriguez is 5-0 with a 1.96 ERA over his last seven road starts, last losing away from home on May 15 in Colorado after allowing three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. He had a four-start win streak snapped on Tuesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings in a 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rodriguez, who owns a career winning percentage of 60.3, is 1-7 with a 6.67 ERA in 12 career starts against the Astros. In his previous start against Houston on July 22, 2025, Rodriguez tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out three. He did not factor into the decision of a 3-1 home loss.
The Diamondbacks are poised to welcome back right-handers Zac Gallen (right elbow inflammation) and Michael Soroka (right arm inflammation) from the 60-day and 15-day injured list, respectively, during the upcoming three-game interleague series at the Kansas City Royals.
Gallen and Soroka are on the same timeline, leaving the D-backs with deployment options for both. Corbin Burnes is set to rejoin the rotation Tuesday following a 15-month recovery after Tommy John surgery, so potential bullpen usage is a factor as well.
“Would we push one (back), which would give them seven days down, or do we piggyback them so they’re both on the same day, which would most likely be Wednesday?” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Those are the conversations we’re having right now. How do we layer them back in?
“They’re both gassed up and ready to go. That piggyback situation could be perfectly timed on Wednesday. Those are the important conversations we’re going to have. They both feel good.”
–Field Level Media
