The Baltimore Orioles will pay a visit to Houston to play the Astros at Minute Maid Park. ESPN is in line to showcase this AL showdown and the game gets underway at 6:10 p.m. ET.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Houston Astros Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Houston (-120) as the favorite over Baltimore (+100). The total sits at nine runs and bettors can wager on the over for -110 and the under for -110. The game’s current runline odds sit at +220 for betting the Orioles +1.5 runs and -240 for the Astros -1.5.
The Astros are 3-1 SU and 2-1 ATS. They’ve gained 0.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.8 units against the spread (ATS). The Orioles are 1-2 SU and have gone 0-2 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 0.0 units for moneyline gamblers over the early part of the season, but have lost 2.5 units ATS.
Astros games have an over/under record of one-2 in 2018. The Orioles have an over/under record of zero-2.
The Orioles have gained 0.0 units and are 0-2 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in zero of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 1.8 units and are 0-1 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in zero of those games, compared to one that went under.
Chris Tillman will get the nod for Baltimore. The right-handed Tillman started 19 games last year and finished the season 1-7 overall with a 7.84 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP.
The Stros are going with righty Charlie Morton as their starter. Morton recorded 163 strikeouts across 146 innings last year (with only 50 walks), while finishing the season 14-7 overall with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.
As a unit, Houston’s pitching staff has allowed 2.8 runs per game overall this season. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 2.22, a WHIP of 0.99 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 11.1. The bullpen has a 4.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8.4 K/9.
The Houston hitters are putting up 5.5 runs per contest, including 5.5 per game over their last 10 games and 5.5 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .271/.354/.464 over its last five games and is 3-1 SU during that stretch.
The Astros’ offense has been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve. Correa is slashing .438/.500/.813 with seven hits, five RBIs and four runs scored, and Altuve’s line is .563/.556/.625 with nine hits, two RBIs and five runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .345/.409/.547, Altuve appeared to take a step back when facing righties at home last year, slashing .296/.358/.412 across 260 plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Baltimore’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.63 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 9.56 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 2.77, along with a WHIP of 1.44.
Orioles hitters have slashed .117/.224/.234 on their way to 1.7 runs scored per game this season, including 1.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 1.7 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-2 SU).
Machado Machado and Danny Valencia have led Baltimore’s offense. Machado is hitting .333/.538/.444 with three hits and zero RBI, while Valencia (.500/.667/.1000) is up to one hit, zero RBI and two runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .260/.311/.473, Machado seemed to have some trouble hitting right-handed pitchers on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .227/.264/.387 across 254 such plate appearances.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Houston Astros Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Orioles, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Orioles went 1-5 SU against the Astros last season.
The Orioles’ bullpen posted an ERA of 3.80 against the Astros last year.
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