The Detroit Tigers will be taking on the Houston Astros in a Thursday showdown. ATTSN Southwest will broadcast this AL matchup and the action gets underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros Odds
Detroit (receiving +395) is entering this one as the underdog against Houston (-470) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 9 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). The game’s most recent runline odds sit at +180 for picking the Tigers +1.5 runs and -220 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Astros are 81-47 straight up (SU) and 67-60 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle a lot for gamblers, gaining 2.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 1.5 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread just twice in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. The Tigers have gone 38-86 SU this year and are 51-72 ATS. In total, the club has lost 34.4 units for moneyline gamblers and 29.0 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Astros games have a 56-67-4 over/under record in 2019. The Tigers have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 54-60-9.
Jordan Zimmermann will get the start for Detroit. The right-handed Zimmermann is 1-8 with a 6.66 ERA and 57 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-1, 7.20 ERA and three strikeouts across five innings).
The Astros are putting the ball in the hands of righty Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.87 ERA), who has 226 strikeouts and 39 walks, along with a WHIP of 0.98. Cole made two starts against the Tigers in 2018, putting together a spotless 2-0 record with a 2.53 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
As a unit, Houston’s pitchers have yielded 4.0 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.73 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.71 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.8 K/9.
The Houston offense is putting up 5.4 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game over its last 10 games and 4.0 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .256/.348/.439 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Astros’ batters have been led by left fielder Michael Brantley and first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Brantley is slashing .334/.393/.540 with 18 home runs, 76 RBIs and 76 runs scored, while Gurriel’s line sits at .304/.341/.544 with 25 homers, 88 RBIs and 70 runs.
For the visiting squad, Detroit’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.18 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.54 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.97, along with a WHIP of 1.40.
The Tigers offense has slashed .236/.295/.386 on its way to 3.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 2.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Miguel Cabrera and Nicholas Castellanos continue to lead Detroit’s hitters. Cabrera is slashing .280/.341/.390 with nine home runs, 50 RBIs and 32 runs scored. Castellanos is hitting .273/.328/.462 with 11 homers, 37 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
The Tigers have lost 31.2 units and are 36-60 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 39 of those games, compared to 50 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 9.9 units and are 48-45 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 43 of those games, compared to 47 which went under the total.
Tigers vs. Astros Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in just one of Detroit’s last seven games.
- The Tigers have an OPS of .680 this season and an OPS of .668 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS sits at .838 overall and .812 against righties.
- Detroit has posted 19.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.2 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
