The San Diego Padres (67-75) play the 2nd game of a 3-game series against the Houston Astros (80-62) Saturday. First pitch from Minute Maid Park is at 7:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network).

Season series: Padres lead 1-0

The Padres opened a 9-game road trip with an 11-2 victory in the series opener Friday. San Diego has won 5 of its last 7 games but is still 7 games back for the final NL Wild Card.

The Astros have now lost 4 of their last 7 but the 3 wins were a sweep over the AL West rival Texas Rangers. Houston has a 1/2-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West and has opened up a 3-game lead over the Rangers.

Padres at Astros projected starters

RHP Seth Lugo vs. RHP Cristian Javier

Lugo (6-6 3.49 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.20 WHIP 2.0 BB/9 and 8.7 K/9 through 121 1/3 IP.

• Last start: Win 6 IP 0 ER 3 H 1 BB 4 K in 4-0 home win over San Francisco Giants Sunday
• Recorded a 1.24 ERA across 29 IP over his last 5 starts

Javier (9-3 4.65 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.28 WHIP 3.3 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 through 137 1/3 IP.

• Last start: Loss 6 IP 3 ER 4 H 0 BB 8 K in 6-1 home loss to New York Mets on Sunday
• Owns a 5.84 ERA through 29 1/3 IP in last 6 starts

Padres at Astros odds

• Moneyline (ML): Padres +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Astros -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Padres +1.5 (-175) | Astros -1.5 (+145)
• Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Padres at Astros picks and predictions

Prediction

Padres 5 Astros 2

Moneyline

Lugo has been lights out over the last month and the Padres have won 3 of his last 4 starts. They are 28-39 on the road but the Astros are only 35-35 at home this season.

Javier has been giving up runs recently.

The Astros have been feast or famine with their bats. In their last 7 wins they have averaged 13 runs a game. In their last 6 losses? 1.8 runs.

BET PADRES (+110).

Run line/Against the spread

The Astros are an awful 44-60 ATS as favorites this season.

The Padres have won outright 22 times in their last 24 games covering the spread.

PASS.

Over/Under

Four of Lugo’s last 5 starts have had 9 or fewer runs.

Seven of the Padres’ last 11 games have not passed a 9-run total. Eight of their last 10 wins have not reached double-digit total runs.

BET UNDER 9 (-110).