The Baltimore Orioles will be facing off against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will broadcast this AL matchup and the game is slated to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Houston Astros Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Baltimore (+100) as the underdog to Houston (-120). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +105 for over 9 runs and -125 for under 9. The game’s current runline odds sit at +225 for betting the Orioles +1.5 runs and -245 for the Astros -1.5.
The Astros are 4-1 SU and 3-1 ATS. The team’s gained 1.3 units for moneyline bettors and 1.8 units against the spread (ATS). The Orioles have gone 1-3 SU this year and are 0-3 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 1.1 units for moneyline gamblers this year and 3.5 units ATS.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 2-2 in 2018. The Orioles have an over/under record of 0-3.
The Orioles have lost 1.1 units and are 0-3 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in zero of those games, as opposed to three that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 1.8 units and are 0-1 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in zero of those games, compared to one that went under the total.
The right-handed Mike Wright Jr. will get the start for Baltimore. Wright Jr. recorded 28 strikeouts in 24 innings last year with only seven walks but finished the season 0-0 overall with a 5.76 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.
The Stros are rolling with righty Justin Verlander as their starter. Verlander struck out 219 hitters in 206 innings last year (33 starts). Verlander finished the season 15-8 overall with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
As a unit, Houston’s pitching staff has given up 2.4 runs per game overall this season. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 1.78, a WHIP of 0.96 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.7. The bullpen has a 3.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.6 K/9.
Houston’s hitters are putting up 5.6 runs per outing so far this season and the team has a slash-line of .283/.371/.486 to begin the year.
Shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve have led the Astros’ offense so far. Correa is hitting .412/.474/.765 with seven hits, five RBIs and four runs scored, while Altuve’s line is .476/.478/.571 with 10 hits, three RBIs and five runs.
Altuve appeared to take a step back when facing right-handed pitchers at home last season, slashing .296/.358/.412 across 260 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .345/.409/.547).
For the visitors, Baltimore’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 6.30 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 7.65 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.18, along with a K-per-9 of 10.06.
Orioles hitters have slashed .134/.231/.260 on their way to a meager 1.5 runs scored per game this season.
Baltimore’s offensive production been led by Valencia Valencia and Manny Machado. Valencia has one hit, zero RBIs and two runs scored, while Machado is hitting .231 with three hits and zero RBIs.
Machado did not perform especially well against right-handed pitchers on the road last year. Over 254 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .227/.264/.387 (his overall season line was .260/.311/.473).
Baltimore Orioles at Houston Astros Free Prediction
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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