The Cleveland Indians are taking on the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the MLB Divisional Playoffs. The series officially gets going at 2:05 p.m. ET and this opening game will be televised on TBS.
Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros Odds
Cleveland (+130) is entering this game as the underdog against Houston (-140) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this one at seven runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total stand at +105 for the under and -125 for the over. You can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at -170 for the Indians +1.5 runs and +150 for the Astros -1.5.
In the regular season, the Astros are 103-59 straight up (SU) and 83-79 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t strayed too far from expectations, losing 2.7 units for moneyline bettors and 5.6 units (ATS). On the other hand, the Indians are 91-71 SU and have gone 76-86 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 24.5 units for moneyline bettors and 22.1 units ATS.
Houston games have an over/under record of 70-84-8 in 2018. Cleveland has an over/under record of 77-75-10.
Corey Kluber will get the start for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Kluber is 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and 222 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with 17 strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA against Houston this year (two starts).
The Astros are sending righty Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA) to the mound. Verlander has 290 strikeouts and 37 walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 0.90. Verlander hasn’t faced the Indians yet this year, but he made four starts against them in 2017, posting a 1-3 record with an 8.14 ERA.
Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 9.66 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.60, along with a WHIP of 1.14 and a K/9 of 9.28.
Indians hitters have slashed .259/.334/.434 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Cleveland’s offensive production has been led by shortstop Francisco Lindor and left fielder Michael Brantley, who’ve collectively launched 55 home runs. Lindor is slashing .277/.352/.519 with 38 home runs, 92 RBIs, 129 runs and 25 stolen bases, while Brantley (.309/.364/.468) has produced 17 homers, 76 RBIs and 89 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Houston’s pitchers have given up 3.3 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have a 3.16 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.03, a WHIP of 1.06 and a K/9 of 10.6.
The Houston hitters are putting up 4.9 runs per outing, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 2.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .189/.271/.314 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Astros’ batters have been led by third baseman Alex Bregman and second baseman Jose Altuve. Bregman is slashing .286/.394/.532 with 31 home runs, 103 RBIs and 105 runs scored, while Altuve’s line is .316/.386/.451 with 13 homers, 61 RBIs, 84 runs and 17 stolen bases.
The Indians have lost 16.4 units and are 57-62 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 57 of those games, compared to 56 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 4.4 units and are 54-48 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 43 of those games, as opposed to 54 that’ve cashed the under.
Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in seven of Houston’s last seven games.
Houston has recorded 21.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 14.4 over its last five.
The Indians have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
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