The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros are set to conclude their series on Sunday, with the Nationals' Foster Griffin scheduled to pitch against the Astros' Spencer Arrighetti. The Nationals have performed better than anticipated this season, holding a record above .500. This series has seen each team secure a victory, with the Nationals winning the opener 12-11 and the Astros evening the series with a 6-3 win on Saturday.
The Nationals' starter, Griffin, is having a career-best season at age 30. He enters the matchup with a 9-2 record, a 2.87 earned run average, and a 1.04 WHIP. This performance marks a significant improvement for Griffin, who has a one-year contract. His strong showing could make him a trade candidate for the Nationals as they consider their long-term strategy.
On the other side, the Astros are relying on Spencer Arrighetti. Arrighetti has a 7-4 record with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. However, his performance has been notably weaker on the road, where his ERA increases by a full run and a significant portion of his walks occur. Arrighetti's June was particularly challenging, with 25 earned runs allowed in five starts, a stark contrast to the eight earned runs allowed in his nine starts outside of June.
Both teams are looking to bolster their rosters. The Astros, currently two games under .500, are expected to be active at the trade deadline, potentially seeking additional pitching and hitting support. Injuries have impacted the team, though they remain in contention within a division where no team has clearly dominated.
The forecast for Sunday's game indicates wind blowing out at the ballpark, suggesting a potentially higher-scoring game. The betting total is set at 9.5, with a lean towards the over. Despite the offensive potential, the matchup features Arrighetti's road struggles against Griffin's consistent performance, regardless of location. Betting analysts suggest that Griffin and the Nationals represent good value in this series finale.