The streaking Houston Astros will go for their fifth straight victory as they play host to the Baltimore Orioles at Minute Maid Park. This AL matchup will begin at 1:10 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will broadcast the game.
Baltimore Orioles at Houston Astros Odds
Baltimore (-115) is favored against Houston (-105) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this day game at 8.5 runs. Odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at Orioles +1.5 runs (+187) and Astros -1.5 runs (-205).
The Astros are 5-1 SU and 4-1 ATS. They’ve gained 2.3 units for moneyline bettors and 2.8 units against the spread (ATS). The Orioles are 1-4 SU and have gone 0-4 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 2.1 units for moneyline gamblers over the early part of the year and 4.6 units ATS.
Houston games have an over/under record of 2-3 so far in 2018. The Orioles have an over/under record of 0-4.
The Astros have lost 0.8 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in zero of those games, compared to two that’ve hit the under against righty starters.
Dylan Bundy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the nod for Baltimore. The right-handed Bundy started 28 games last year and finished the season 13-9 overall with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.
The Astros will be turning to lefty Dallas Keuchel (0-1, 4.50 ERA), who started 23 games last year while finishing the season 14-5 overall with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
Houston’s pitching staff has allowed 3.0 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 2.25, a WHIP of 1.00 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 11.3. The bullpen has a 3.71 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 9.0 K/9.
Houston’s offense has put up 6.3 runs per contest so far this season and the team’s hit .303/.384/.514 to begin the year.
The Astros’ hitters have been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve. Correa is slashing .474/.522/.947 with nine hits, eight RBIs and seven runs scored, while Altuve is batting .440 with 11 hits, three RBIs and six runs.
Altuve did not do as well hitting against righty pitching at home in 2017, slashing .296/.358/.412 across 260 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .345/.409/.547).
In the other dugout, Baltimore’s pitchers have allowed 6.2 runs per game and its starters own a 6.12 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 8.28 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 5.85, along with a WHIP of 1.56 and a K/9 of 10.80.
The Orioles offense has yet to warm up, hitting just .176/.257/.327 on its way to 2.4 runs scored per game this year.
Right fielder Adam Jones and shortstop Manny Machado have led Baltimore’s offense. Jones is slashing .286/.318/.571 with six hits, four RBIs and two runs scored, while Machado (.278/.409/.333) is up to five hits and zero RBIs.
Jones seemed to have some trouble hitting lefty pitching on the road last year. Over 76 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .239/.289/.352 (compared to his total season line of .285/.322/.466).
Baltimore Orioles at 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 Astros’ bullpen managed 5.60 ERA against the Orioles last year.
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