Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros Betting Preview

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The Arizona Diamondbacks will head east to Minute Maid Park to take on the Houston Astros. This interleague matchup will begin at 8:10 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Arizona to catch the game.

Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros Odds

Vegas is listing Arizona (+160) as the underdog to Houston (-170). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over eight runs and -120 for under eight. Runline odds sit at -135 for betting the Diamondbacks +1.5 runs and +115 for the Astros -1.5.

The Astros are 92-54 straight up (SU) and 75-71 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 5.0 units for moneyline bettors and 4.0 units (ATS). The Diamondbacks are 77-70 SU and have gone 73-73 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 5.0 units for moneyline gamblers, but have gained 4.7 units ATS.

Houston games have a 65-74-7 over/under record in 2018. The Diamondbacks have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 65-75-6.

Robbie Ray is getting the start for the visiting Diamondbacks. The southpaw Ray is 5-2 with a 4.18 ERA and 136 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.

The Astros are turning to lefty Dallas Keuchel (11-10, 3.59 ERA), who has 138 strikeouts and 48 walks to his name as well as a 1.27 WHIP. Keuchel did not record a start against the Diamondbacks in 2017.

Houston’s pitchers have yielded 3.3 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The team’s starters have an ERA of 3.21, a WHIP of 1.13 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.3. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.89, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.8.

Houston’s offense is putting up 5.0 runs per outing, including 5.1 per game over its last 10 games and 4.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .250/.335/.424 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.

Third baseman Alex Bregman and second baseman Jose Altuve have led the Astros’ batters this year. Bregman is hitting .296/.398/.556 with 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored, while Altuve’s line is .318/.382/.458 with 12 homers, 54 RBIs, 74 runs and 15 stolen bases.

For the visiting squad, Arizona’s pitchers have allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.73 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.33 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.58, along with a WHIP of 1.21 and a K/9 of 8.14.

Diamondbacks hitters have slashed .238/.317/.398 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).

Arizona’s offensive production has been sparked by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and left fielder David Peralta, who have combined to launch 60 home runs. Goldschmidt is slashing .298/.401/.556 with 33 home runs, 83 RBIs and 92 runs scored. Peralta is hitting .295/.353/.518 with 27 homers, 78 RBIs and 71 runs scored.

The Diamondbacks have lost 2.1 units and are 24-26 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 21 of those games, as opposed to 26 that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 5.7 units and are 27-29 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 26 of those games, as opposed to 28 that’ve cashed the under.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros Free MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Diamondbacks, O/U – UNDER

Betting Notes,

  • The over has cashed in five of Houston’s last seven games.
  • The Diamondbacks have lost five of their last six games SU while the Astros have won 10 of their last 11.
  • The Arizona defense has allowed eight errors over the last 10 games, compared to three errors for Houston over its last 10.
  • The Diamondbacks have hit six home runs in their last 10 games, including four over their last five.