Series Preview: Diamondbacks @ Astros

* PREVIEW: ARI @ HOU -- This evening, Arizona opens a three-game road series against the Astros, who roll into the weekend having won seven games in a row.  Wins are wins, but the streak is less impressive considering it came in consecutive series sweeps against the Reds (53-68) and Giants (50-70).  Our boys should put up more of a fight than those Sisters of the Poor, especially with Brandon Webb and Randy Johnson expected to take the mound in the series.  In their meeting at Chase Field from April 28-30, the Diamondbacks took two of three from Houston.

* MATH CLASS -- The Astros have the same record as Arizona at 62-59, but they have been outscored 555-576 on the season.  based on the Pythagorean expectation formula developed by Bill James to translate run differential into wins and losses, the 'Stros should be 58-63 on the year.  With 549 runs scored to 526 runs allowed, the Diamondbacks project to a record of 63-58.  Fans will remember that Arizona won the NL West last year...

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Tags: Bill James, Brandon Webb, Cincinnati Reds, Craig Biggio, Ed Wade, Eric Byrnes, Houston Astros, Jeff Bagwell, Miguel Tejada, Mitchell Report, Randy Johnson, San Francisco Giants