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MLB predictions Astros vs Padres, 9/16: San Diego the smart play

Matchup at a Glance

• Date: Friday, September 16
• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Location: Petco Park, San Diego, Calif.
• TV: Apple TV+
• Starting Pitchers: Luis Garcia (HOU) vs. Blake Snell (SD)

Astros vs Padres Betting Preview

The Houston Astros (96-44) and San Diego Padres (85-55) wrap up their regular season series on Friday night in San Diego with each team headed in opposite directions. Houston has lost six of its last 10 games, including two straight to the last-place Oakland Athletics. Meanwhile, the Padres have won five of their last seven, including taking the opener of this three-game set, 7-6, on Thursday night. The Astros still have a 7.5-game lead over the Padres in the NL West and are a near-lock to win the division, while the Padres are currently in the third and final NL wild-card spot.

Astros Looking to Regroup

The Astros have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball all season long, but they have hit a bit of a skid lately. They have lost six of their last 10 games, including two straight to the last-place Oakland Athletics. One of the biggest problems for the Astros lately has been their offense. They have scored just 18 runs in their last six games and have struck out 64 times in that span. The Astros will need to find a way to get their offense going if they want to win this series and clinch the NL West. They will face a tough challenge in Padres starter Blake Snell, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season.

Padres Playing with Confidence

The Padres have been playing with a lot of confidence lately, and it has shown in their results. They have won five of their last seven games, including taking the opener of this three-game set, 7-6, on Thursday night. The Padres have been getting it done with a combination of good pitching and timely hitting. Their starting pitchers have a 3.20 ERA in their last seven games, and their offense has averaged 5.14 runs per game in that span. The Padres will need to continue to play well if they want to make a run at the NL West title. They will face a tough challenge in Astros starter Luis Garcia, who has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball this season.

Betting Pick

The Padres are the more in-form team at the moment, and they are also playing at home. The Astros have been struggling lately, and they will have a tough time winning this series if they don't find a way to get their offense going. The Padres are the smart play in this one.

Prediction: Padres 5, Astros 3