MLB Picks: April 19th 2013
Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros
Pick: Houston +1.5 -145 odds
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This is not a potent Cleveland team at all this season, especially with their injuries so we’ll back Houston plus the runs in this game on Friday night.
Houston returns home after a 3-6 road trip thru the AL West. They return home to host Cleveland who lost their last four games at home to the Red Sox and White Sox. Brett Myers goes for the Tribe and he’s 0-2 with an 8.82 ERA in three games this season. Myers has not faced Houston as a starter since 2008 when he lost on the road 4-3. Rick Ankiel has had good success against the righty picking up three hits in seven tries. Houston is hitting .265 against right-handed pitching putting up almost 5 runs per game in those contests.
Lucas Harrell is making his fourth start for the Astros. He has yet to win although his last start was solid allowing 1 run to the Angels striking out five while walking only one. Harrell gave up 1 run and two hits in seven innings last year against the Tribe striking out nine while walking three. Cleveland hitters are a combined 4-for-27 against the Astros pitcher with three of those hits coming from Drew Stubbs. Cleveland is hitting .217 in six games against right-handed starters and they will not have their leadoff hitter Michael Bourn who is on the DL. This is not a potent Cleveland team at all this season, especially with their injuries so we’ll back Houston plus the runs in this game on Friday night. Want all of Steve Merril’s MLB picks for April 19th 2013? Visit our expert sports picks page at Touthouse.com
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros
MLB Pick: Houston Astros +110 odds (April 6th 2013)
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Free MLB Pick from Doc’s Sports Take #978 Houston Astros (+110) over Oakland A’s (7:10pm ET) People have short memories, and what they have on their minds right now is how the Astros got dominated by Yu Darvish and the Rangers pitching staff earlier this week. The Astros struck out 43 times in that three-game series, setting a record for futility in an opening series. There’s no question that Houston will struggle to score runs this year with their propensity to swing and miss. However, today they get a favorable matchup against a pitcher that they should be able to make some decent contact against. At the age of 39, Bartolo Colon is no longer dominant and has to rely on his control to be effective. He was suspended 50 games last season for using testosterone, so it will be interesting to see how much he has left in the tank without it this season. The Astros will trot out righty Bud Norris tonight. Norris is a quality major league starter who normally keeps his team in the game and gives them a shot to win. I think the Astros have a good shot to steal one here at home. Despite losing 107 games last season, they weren’t terrible at home registering a 35-46 mark. Take the Astros tonight.
MLB Picks: August 29th 2012
San Francisco Giants vs. Houston Astros
Pick: Houston Astros +1.5 -105
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I know the Houston Astros have little to play for right now, but they are showing too good of value on the Run Line tonight to pass them up. Asking San Francisco to win by two runs is simply asking too much.
Barry Zito is getting way too much love from oddsmakers in this one. The left-hander is 10-8 with a 4.31 ERA and 1.374 WHIP in 25 starts, including 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.443 WHIP in his last three outings. Zito is 3-3 with a 5.09 ERA in seven career starts against Houston.
Dallas Keuchel is not getting the love he deserves tonight for Houston. The left-hander is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.160 WHIP in six home starts in 2012. He is averaging 6.6 innings/start at home, where he has clearly been at his best all season.
San Francisco is 30-56 against the run line (-31.1 Units) vs. an NL team with a batting average of .245 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The Giants are 7-22 against the run line (-17.6 Units) vs. teams outscored by opp by 1 or more runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons. Houston is 9-1 against the run line (+10.5 Units) in home games after scoring and allowing 5 runs or less last 4 games over the last 3 seasons. Bet the Astros on the Run Line.
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MLB Picks: August 24th 2012
Houston Astros vs. New York Mets
Pick: New York Mets -1.5 +101
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The Astros have now lost 7 in a row with each of those 7 defeats coming by at least 2 runs. I expect their woes to continue tonight with Jordan Lyles on the hill.
The Houston right-hander is 0-6 (0-9 on the money line) with an ERA of 7.58 on the road this season. Each of Houston’s last 6 road losses with him on the mound have come by at least 4 runs. Dating back to last season, the Astros are 0-16 in his last 16 road starts. 11 of those losses have come by 2 runs or more.
New York’s Jon Niese enters in top form (2.11 ERA last 3 starts) and has been rock solid all season (10-6, 3.49 ERA). I expect him to put forth another strong effort tonight and for the New York bats to take care of the rest. Bet the Mets on the run line.
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