The Houston Astros will play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Minute Maid Park. The game will start at 8:10 p.m. ET and this interleague matchup will be shown on either ATPT or ATSW.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Houston Astros Odds
The Astros are 50-30 straight up (SU) and 42-37 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 1.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.2 units ATS. The Pirates have gone 36-41 SU this year and are 38-38 against the spread. In total, the team’s gained 0.8 units for gamblers taking the moneyline, but have lost 7.3 units ATS.
Houston games have a 35-42-2 over/under record so far in 2019. Pittsburgh has been a great over bet with a total record of 44-28-4.
The right-handed Dario Agrazal is the probable starter for Pittsburgh. Agrazal (0-0, 4.50 ERA) has recorded three strikeouts in four innings so far. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Astros will send lefty Framber Valdez (3-3, 3.61 ERA) to the mound. Valdez has 39 strikeouts and 18 walks to his credit, along with a WHIP of 1.25. Valdez did not record a start against the Pirates in 2018.
As a unit, Houston’s pitching staff has allowed 3.9 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 3.69 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.69 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9.7 K/9.
The Houston offense has produced 5.1 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game over its last 10 games and 5.2 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .300/.367/.561 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Astros’ batters have been led by Michael Brantley, who is slashing .318/.377/.505 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and 38 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 8.32 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.19, along with a K/9 of 9.75.
Pirates hitters have slashed .263/.321/.416 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Josh Bell has sparked Pittsburgh’s offense so far and is slashing .311/.381/.631 with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
The Astros just took the previous game in this series by a final tally of five runs to one.
Pirates at Astros Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in three of Houston’s last seven games.
- The Pirates have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 16 over their last 10.
- The Pirates have a total OPS of .737 this season and an OPS of .630 against left-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS sits at .822 overall and .896 against southpaws.
- Houston has posted 22.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 26.8 over its last five.
