The Detroit Tigers are set to take on the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. ATTSN Southwest will broadcast this AL matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros Odds
Vegas is listing Detroit (+275) as the underdog to Houston (-350). The total is sitting at 7.5 runs and gamblers can take the over for -115 and the under for -105. Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the odds coming in at Tigers +1.5 runs (+140) and Astros -1.5 runs (-160).
The Tigers are just 40-57 SU and are 50-46 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors and 5.0 units ATS. Detroit is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 64-34 SU and 49-48 ATS. They’ve gained 3.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 4.0 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Astros games have an over/under record of 43-49-5 so far in 2018. Detroit has also been a solid under bet with a total record of 37-56-3.
Francisco Liriano will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. The southpaw Liriano is 3-5 with a 4.74 ERA and 60 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 4.50 ERA and four strikeouts over six innings).
The Astros are planning to start righty Justin Verlander (9-4, 2.05 ERA), who has 160 punchouts and 24 walks, as well as a WHIP of 0.83. Verlander did not record a start against the Tigers in 2017.
Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.42 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 7.28 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.48, along with a WHIP of 1.29 and a K/9 of 8.02.
Tigers hitters have slashed .245/.306/.384 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 3.1 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 2.8 per game over the teams last five outings (0-5 SU).
Detroit’s offensive production has been fueled by right fielder Nicholas Castellanos and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Castellanos is hitting .308/.363/.523 with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs and 54 runs scored, while Iglesias (.268/.308/.375) is up to two homers, 34 RBIs, 29 runs and 12 steals.
For the home team, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have an ERA of 2.98, a WHIP of 1.07 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.3. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.78, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.7.
The Houston hitters have put up 5.1 runs per contest, including 5.4 per game over its last 10 games and 5.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .253/.305/.425 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Astros batters have been led by second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman. Altuve is hitting .335/.398/.475 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 63 runs and 14 stolen bases, while Bregman’s line is .288/.388/.538 with 20 homers, 64 RBIs and 66 runs scored.
The Tigers have lost 11.8 units and are 34-37 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 25 of those games, as opposed to 44 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 5.5 units and are 15-20 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in 15 of those games, compared to 19 that went under.
Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Detroit has recorded 10 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Houston has 14 XBH over its last five.
- Houston has posted 23.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.6 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 13 over their last 10.
