Padres vs Astros Picks and Prediction – 4/20/2025

The Padres and Astros meet Sunday at Daikin Park for the final game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 PM ET. San Diego sits at 15-5 after dropping Friday’s opener 6-4, while Houston comes in at 9-10. Dylan Cease (1-1, 6.64 ERA) gets the ball for the Padres, going up against Framber Valdez (1-2, 4.91 ERA) for Houston. Elevate your MLB game with our top-notch MLB picks.

San Diego’s offense continues to fire on all cylinders, having scored 92 runs through 20 games. They came up short in Friday’s loss, but wins in four of the last five, including a 10-4 rout of the Cubs earlier this week, highlight how dangerous this lineup is. Fernando Tatis Jr. is locked in with a .342 average, 6 home runs, and 14 RBIs. 

Defensively, the Padres are among the league’s best, holding a 2.75 team ERA and a .202 opponent batting average. Cease hasn’t matched the team's dominance on the mound yet, with a 6.64 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 20.1 innings. Still, the bullpen has held strong. Injuries to Jason Heyward and a few relievers could thin depth, but overall, the group remains solid. The pitching unit’s 1.10 WHIP and 169 strikeouts display strength and control on the mound.

Houston needed a bounce-back and got it Friday, snapping a mini-skid with a 6-4 win. But inconsistency has plagued the Astros, losing four of the last six games. Jose Altuve is the most consistent bat with a .321 average, 3 homers, and 7 RBIs, while Yordan Alvarez has added 10 RBIs. Still, the Astros’ offense ranks low, with just a .223 team average and 72 total runs scored.

On the mound, Framber Valdez has been average, posting a 4.91 ERA over 22 innings. The Astros’ team ERA sits at 3.74, and opponents are batting .214 against them. Injuries to multiple relievers and starters like Lance McCullers Jr. stretch the pitching depth. Houston’s bullpen has shown flashes, but a 1.14 WHIP and poor slugging percentage allowed could be troublesome.

San Diego has the better offense, deeper lineup, and a more dominant bullpen. Even with Cease struggling early, the Padres’ .277 team average and 92 runs scored are levels above Houston’s sluggish numbers. Combine that with a 2.75 team ERA and league-best WHIP, San Diego should close out the series strong. Final Score Prediction: San Diego Padres win 6-3.