The Houston Astros welcome the Atlanta Braves to Daikin Park on Saturday, September 19, for a 7:10 PM ET first pitch in what shapes up as a compelling late-regular-season matchup between two organizations that know how to win. Hayden Wesneski gets the ball for Houston against Atlanta's Grant Holmes, with the full Houston lineup card loaded with familiar names — Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, and Jeremy Peña leading the charge. This is a game that matters in the standings, and the Astros need to protect home turf.

Astros vs. Braves Starting Pitchers: Wesneski and Holmes Square Off

Hayden Wesneski draws the Saturday night assignment, a significant responsibility for any pitcher. Wesneski has shown flashes of the stuff that made him an intriguing arm — a sharp slider and the ability to work deep into counts — and Houston will need him to be sharp against an Atlanta lineup that features legitimate middle-of-the-order threats. Grant Holmes gets the nod for the Braves, and while detailed season-long numbers aren't available for either starter heading into this one, the pitching matchup figures to be competitive from the jump.

Houston Astros Starting Lineup

• 1. Jeremy Peña, SS
• 2. Yordan Alvarez, DH
• 3. Isaac Paredes, 3B
• 4. Jose Altuve, 2B
• 5. Yainer Diaz, C
• 6. Daulton Varsho, CF
• 7. Christian Walker, 1B
• 8. Cam Smith, RF
• 9. LaMonte Wade Jr., LF

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup

• 1. Drake Baldwin, DH
• 2. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
• 3. Matt Olson, 1B
• 4. Michael Harris II, CF
• 5. Mauricio Dubón, SS
• 6. Ozzie Albies, 2B
• 7. Mike Yastrzemski, LF
• 8. Austin Riley, 3B
• 9. Sean Murphy, C

Three Keys to Watch in This Matchup

• Stopping Ronald Acuña Jr.: Hitting second in Atlanta's order, Acuña is the kind of player who can single-handedly change the tone of a game. Wesneski and the Houston defense need to keep him off the bases early and often.
• Yordan Alvarez's impact at the plate: Slotted in the two-hole, Alvarez gives Houston a terrifying presence protecting Peña and setting the table for Paredes and Altuve. If Yordan is seeing the ball well, this offense becomes very difficult to manage for Holmes.
• Cam Smith and the bottom of the order: Smith, hitting eighth, is a name to watch. The bottom of Houston's lineup — Smith, Wade Jr., and Peña cycling back around — can be a sneaky engine for rallies if the top of the order is doing its job.

Prediction: Astros Win a Tight One at Daikin Park

This is a home game that Houston should take seriously and treat accordingly. The Braves are never a team you overlook — Acuña, Olson, and Riley make sure of that — but Daikin Park gives the Astros an edge, and this lineup has the depth to put crooked numbers on the board. Wesneski needs to give Houston five or six quality innings to keep the bullpen from being overworked. If he does that and Alvarez produces in a middle-of-the-lineup role, Houston takes this one. Astros 5, Braves 3.

Catch the game on Space City Home Network or in Spanish on Space City Home Network (Sp). Radio coverage is available on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan and KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2.