Baltimore Orioles vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Baltimore Orioles Look to Extend Winning Streak Against Houston Astros in AL Showdown

The Baltimore Orioles, currently second in the AL East with a 49-26 record, will face off against the Houston Astros who are looking to climb up the standings in the AL West with a 36-40 record. Albert Suarez (RHP) with a 3-1 record and 2.05 ERA will start for the Orioles, while Framber Valdez (LHP) with a 5-5 record and 3.91 ERA will start for the Astros. Both pitchers are coming off recent losses, and Houston is favored to win with a current line of -107. Stay tuned for an exciting matchup between these two teams.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Orioles -107 | Astros -107
• Spread: Orioles +1.25 (-179) | Astros -1.25 (+149)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 52%.

Baltimore vs Houston Stats

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have been performing exceptionally well offensively, ranking second in the league with a .775 team OPS and leading in total home runs with 123. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson has been outstanding with a .991 OPS, 24 home runs, 53 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. Pitcher Albert Suarez has been solid, showcasing strong performance metrics in barrel percentage, hard hit percentage, xBA, and xERA. His changeup has been particularly effective against hitters. The Orioles, with a power ranking of 1, are ranked first in offense, fifth in defense, and have a record of 49-27 this season. They have several players currently out with injuries, including pitcher Kyle Bradish, shortstop Jackson Holliday, and pitchers John Means, Danny Coulombe, Dean Kremer, and Felix Bautista. This will be an interesting test for Suarez as he faces the Houston Astros for the first time in his career.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros have had a strong offensive performance this year, ranking sixth in MLB with a .738 team OPS and averaging 4.5 runs per game. However, their lack of walks, ranked 25th with 213 total walks, is a notable weakness. Second baseman Jose Altuve has been a standout player with impressive stats in hitting, home runs, RBI, runs scored, and stolen bases. On the pitching side, Framber Valdez has struggled, ranking poorly in several key metrics according to Baseball Savant. He has faced challenges with his slider, which has resulted in a high batting average and slugging percentage against. The Astros have several players listed on the injury report, including key pitchers and outfielder Kyle Tucker. In terms of power ranking, the Astros are at 15 and have a record of 37-40. Recent matchups against Baltimore have not been favorable for Houston, with the Orioles winning all three games.

Pitching Discrepancy Gives Baltimore Orioles the Edge as Underdogs Against Houston Astros

In the past seven games, the starting pitchers have displayed varying performances. Albert Suarez has recorded a 1-1 record with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 24.2 innings, whereas Framber Valdez holds a 3-4 record with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 44.0 innings during the same period. Additionally, there is a notable discrepancy between the bullpens of both teams. Baltimore ranks fifth in the majors with a 3.40 reliever ERA, while Houston is positioned 15th with a 3.78 bullpen ERA this season. Considering these factors, the Baltimore Orioles, as a slight road underdog, seem to be the more favorable betting option.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]