The Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros may have been the two best teams in baseball since mid-June, but both have experienced a bit of a slump.

The Astros have a 42-25 record since June 19, while the D-backs have a 43-25 record during that span. Houston, on the other hand, has a 7-8 record in its last 15 games and Arizona has a 4-6 record in its previous 10 games.

Given their positions before mid-June, both teams still need a certain level of consistency in the final month of the season to make the playoffs. Houston is 4.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in an AL West that only one playoff team is likely to win, while Arizona is just 2.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, who share the final NL Wild Card spot.

Probable pitching results Diamondbacks-Astros

Friday, 5:10 p.m. — RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-7, 4.32 ERA) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.11)

Saturday, 1:10 p.m. — LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-1, 5.33 ERA) vs. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (7-9, 4.24)

Sunday, 4:10 p.m. — RHP Ryne Nelson (10-6, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (3-5, 4.52)

Valdez has emerged as one of the best left-handed hitters in baseball over the past half-decade, and Arizona is up to the task with an OPS of .777 against lefties this year, slightly higher than against righties (.771). Kikuchi and Verlander are later additions in 2024 who are theoretically supposed to round out a strong rotation led by Valdez and Ronel Blanco (3.03 ERA, 1.092 WHIP).

Kikuchi was acquired at the trade deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays and has a WHIP of under one in Houston, while Verlander’s return after a nearly three-month layoff brought 11 earned runs in 14.2 innings.

For the D-backs, Nelson’s outstanding form will continue to ensure he’s included in the playoff rotation, as Pfaadt’s solid season has dipped somewhat in recent weeks and Rodriguez, like Verlander, has struggled after an extended absence.

Diamondbacks-Astros hitters to watch

Press: All eyes will be on him when Ketel Marte is back in the squad after missing a few weeks with an ankle injury. Arizona’s offense has held up surprisingly well despite injuries, but there is a feeling that the dam will show major cracks at some point. So the sooner their best player returns, the better. Catcher Gabriel Moreno is still not expected back anytime soon, so Adrian Del Castillo needs to rediscover his batting skills. Del Castillo has one hit in his last 13 games, while his weaknesses on defense have become more apparent.

Astros: Yordan Alvarez is on his way to the Hall of Fame at 27 years old and has an OPS of 1.178 in August. His career OPS in 612 games is .975. One of the guys who played alongside him in recent years and made it before his arrival was Alex Bregmanbut the third baseman was mostly average at the plate this season, that is, until he hit an OPS of .947 in August. With that in mind, their longtime franchise player Jose Altuve Like Bregman, he hasn’t found his rhythm in the home stretch and his OPS of .784 is a 131-point drop from 2023.

Follow @KellanOlson