The Baltimore Orioles will face off against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. This AL showdown will get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will televise the game.
Baltimore Orioles at Houston Astros Odds
Baltimore (+100) is hosting this game as the underdog to Houston (-120) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 9 runs (+105 for the over and -125 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at Orioles +1.5 runs (+225) and Astros -1.5 runs (-245).
The Orioles are 1-3 SU and have gone 0-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 1.1 units for moneyline gamblers over the early portions of the year and 3.5 units ATS. The Astros are 4-1 SU and 3-1 ATS. The team’s gained 1.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 1.8 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 righty starter this season. The over has hit in zero of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 1.8 units and are 0-1 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in zero of those games, compared to one that’ve cashed the under.
The right-handed Mike Wright Jr. will get the nod for the visiting Orioles. Wright Jr. recorded 28 strikeouts in 24 innings last year (zero starts) while finishing the season 0-0 overall with a 5.76 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.
The Stros have tabbed righty Justin Verlander as their starter. Verlander struck out 219 hitters across 206 innings last year (33 starts). Verlander finished the season 15-8 overall with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
Houston’s pitchers have given up 2.4 runs per game overall this year as a unit. 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.
The Houston offense is putting up 5.6 runs per outing so far this season and the team has hit .283/.371/.486 to begin the year.
The Astros’ hitters have been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve. Correa is hitting .412/.474/.765 with seven hits, five RBIs and four runs scored, and Altuve’s line is .476/.478/.571 with 10 hits, three RBIs and five runs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .345/.409/.547, Altuve appeared to take a step back when facing righty pitching at home in 2017, slashing .296/.358/.412 across 260 plate appearances.
For the visiting squad, Baltimore’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers 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.
The Orioles offense has not warmed up yet, hitting only .134/.231/.260 on its way to 1.5 runs scored per game in 2018.
Baltimore’s hitters have been led by Valencia Valencia and Manny Machado. Valencia has one hit, zero RBIs and two runs scored, while Machado is hitting .231/.412/.308 with three hits and zero RBIs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .260/.311/.473, Machado didn’t do especially well against righties on the road in 2017, maintaining a slash line of just .227/.264/.387 across 254 such plate appearances.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Houston Astros Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Orioles, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Orioles went 1-5 SU against the Astros last season.
- The Orioles’ bullpen managed 3.80 ERA against the Astros last year.
