Astros vs. Orioles Pick
Can the Baltimore Orioles continue their hot streak tonight when they open a weekend series with the Houston Astros at 7:05PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Astros are favored on the road tonight, as they are getting odds of -140 to win, while the Orioles are listed with a money line of +125 to win. The over/under total for the game has been set at 11 runs. Houston has won all three meetings with Baltimore this season and nine of the last 10 between these two.
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The pitching matchup for this game has Mike Fiers (6-4, 3.75 ERA) on the mound for Houston to face Ubaldo Jimenez (4-5, 7.01) of the Orioles. Fiers has been on a nice little run, allowing just five runs over his last three starts, a total of 17 innings. He had 11 strikeouts against the Twins in his last start and has 98 strikeouts on the season with 37 walks and a 1.27 WHIP. Jimenez has struggled most of the season and has allowed 15 runs over his last 13.2 innings. He has 74 strikeouts with 43 walks and a 1.58 WHIP on the season.
Baltimore is showing some life, as it took completed a four-game sweep of the Rangers this week. The Orioles are now 46-49 overall and 29-19 at home. Baltimore is putting up 4.60 runs per game while allowing 5.35 per contest. The Orioles are being led by Jonathan Schoop, who has 19 home runs, 26 doubles and 63 RBI. Adam Jones is adding 17 home runs and 45 RBI.
Houston is coming off a series loss at home to the Mariners. The Astros are now 63-32 overall and 33-11 on the road. The Astros are scoring 5.87 runs per game while allowing 4.13 per contest. Houston suffered a big blow this week, losing Carlos Correa for a number of weeks to a hand injury. He was hitting .320 with 20 homers and 67 RBI this season. Jose Altuve is leading the team with 27 doubles, 14 home runs, 52 RBI, 19 stolen bases and a .353 batting average. George Springer is adding 27 home runs and 66 RBI.
There are definitely some reasons to like Baltimore tonight. The Orioles are on a nice hot streak and the Astros will be without one of their best hitters. However, I just don’t see it happening with this pitching matchup. Jimenez has been a mess and his numbers at home are even worse than his average. Houston has a consistent Fiers pitching and the Astros seem to be a better team on the road than they are at home.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: HOUSTON ASTROS -140