Carlos Santana and the Cleveland Indians will be taking on the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in a Saturday showdown. This AL matchup can be viewed across the country on Fox Sports One. The game gets underway 4:05 p.m. ET.
Cleveland Indians at Houston Astros Odds
Bookmakers have Houston (-140) as the favorite over Cleveland (+130). You can play game’s total with current odds sitting at even money (+100) for over 9 runs and -120 for under 9. There’s a runline of Indians +1.5 (-170) and Astros -1.5 (+150) for this matchup.
The Astros are 15-11 straight up (SU) and 11-14 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 1.3 units for moneyline bettors and 3.3 units ATS. Houston has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Indians, on the other hand, have gone 15-10 SU this year and are 11-13 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 0.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline through the early part of the season, but have lost 1.2 units ATS. Cleveland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Houston games have a 10-15 over/under record thus far in 2019. The Indians have an over/under record of 11-13.
Shane Bieber will get the nod for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Bieber is 2-1 with a 3.47 ERA and 25 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Astros are handing the ball to righty Brad Peacock (2-1, 4.29 ERA), who has 17 strikeouts and six walks as well as a 1.05 WHIP. Peacock did not register a start against the Indians in 2018.
Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starters own a 3.50 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.64 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.47, along with a WHIP of 1.18.
Indians hitters have slashed .212/.305/.339 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Cleveland’s hitters have been paced by first baseman Carlos Santana and outfielder Leonys Martin. Santana is slashing .317/.446/.415 with 26 hits, 13 RBIs and 14 runs scored. Martin has a .256 average with 23 hits, five homers, eight RBIs and 15 runs scored.
For the home team, Houston’s pitchers have given up 3.8 runs per game overall in 2019. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 4.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.11, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 9.8.
The Houston offense is putting up 4.8 runs per outing, including 5.7 per game over its last 10 games and 5.2 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .281/.365/.461 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Astros’ batters have been led by outfielders Michael Brantley and George Springer. Brantley is slashing .327/.378/.535 with five home runs, 18 RBIs and 14 runs scored, and Springer’s line sits at .279/.367/.567 with eight homers, 22 RBIs and 19 runs.
The Indians have gained 2.5 units and are 9-10 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in seven of those games, compared to 12 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 5.2 units and are 7-11 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in eight of those games, compared to 10 that went under the total.
Indians vs. Astros Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in three of Cleveland’s last seven outings.
- Houston has recorded 24.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.0 over its last five.
- The Indians have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
- The Indians have a total OPS of .644 this season and an OPS of .647 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS stands at .839 overall and .800 against righties.
