The Houston Astros will play the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Fox Sports Arizona will broadcast this interleague matchup and the game gets underway at 4:10 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Arizona (+185) as the underdog to Houston (-200). Gamblers can bet on the game’s total with odds posted at +110 for over 8 runs and -130 for under 8. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at -140 for the Astros -1.5 runs and +120 for the Diamondbacks +1.5 runs.
The Astros have gone 21-14 SU this year and are 17-17 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 2.0 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 2.4 units ATS. Houston is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, are 22-11 SU and 17-15 ATS. The team has gained 11.5 units for moneyline bettors and 3.0 units ATS. Arizona has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Diamondbacks games have an over/under record of 14-16-2 so far in 2018. Houston has been a decent under bet with a total record of 13-19-2.
The right-handed Justin Verlander is projected to start for the visiting Astros. Verlander is 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 62 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Diamondbacks this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 4.50 ERA and seven strikeouts over six innings).
The Diamondbacks are putting the ball in the hands of righty Matt Koch (1-0, 2.37 ERA), who has 14 punchouts and seven walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.00. Koch did not record any MLB pitching stats in 2017.
Houston’s pitching staff allowed 2.9 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.41 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 10.81 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.39, along with a K/9 of 10.06.
The Astros offense has slashed .252/.334/.396 on its way to 4.7 runs scored per game this season, including 4.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Houston’s offense has been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and right fielder George Springer. Correa is slashing .298/.366/.508 with five home runs, 25 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Springer (.273/.338/.476) has produced seven homers, 21 RBIs and 28 runs scored.
For the home team, Arizona’s pitching staff has given up 3.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 3.68 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.24, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 8.3.
The Arizona hitters have put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 3.7 per game over its last 10 games and 2.2 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .185/.277/.293 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Outfielders A.J. Pollock and David Peralta have led the charge for the Diamondbacks’ hitters so far. Pollock is slashing .298/.351/.653 with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs, 21 runs and eight stolen bases, and Peralta’s line is .296/.394/.528 with six homers, 19 RBIs and 17 runs.
The Astros have gained 0.6 units and are 12-11 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to 13 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Diamondbacks have netted 3.1 units and are 8-9 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to eight which went under the total.
Houston Astros at Arizona Diamondbacks Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
Arizona has posted 18.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 13.8 over its last five.
The Astros have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Diamondbacks have hit 13 over their last 10.
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