Houston Astros vs
Pittsburgh PiratesPredictions & Preview

Houston Astros Look to Claim Top Spot in AL West With Game Against Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park

The Houston Astros (32-27) will be aiming to take the top spot in the AL West as they face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (22-38) at PNC Park on Wednesday night. Ryan Gusto (3-2, 4.62 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros, while Mike Burrows (0-1, 8.64 ERA) will pitch for the Pirates. Houston is the favored team with a -138 opening line. Despite splitting their last 10 meetings, the outcome of this Astros vs. Pirates matchup remains to be seen. Stay tuned for the final result.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Astros -138 | Pirates +120
• Spread: Astros -1.5 (+115) | Pirates +1.5 (-135)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 58%.

Houston vs Pittsburgh Stats

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have recently performed well, winning six of their last eight games and currently ranking second in the AL West standings. They are striving to take the top spot with a win on Wednesday. Houston has an average of 4.05 runs per game, placing them 24th in the league, while their batting average is ninth. Jeremy Pena leads the team with a .309 batting average, and Isaac Paredes has 11 home runs and 32 RBI. Defensively, Houston is allowing 3.80 runs per game, ranking eighth in the league, with opponents having a .220 batting average against them. In their last game, they faced a 13-3 loss to Tampa Bay, where Gusto gave up four hits and two runs in 4.2 innings. Their power ranking is 19, with the offense ranked 21st and defense ranked 10th. They currently have a record of 32-27 this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Analysis

The Pittsburgh Pirates recently bounced back from a series loss to San Diego and are looking to continue their recent success with their upcoming game on Wednesday. Despite their low offensive rankings, the team has shown improvement in their last six games. Andrew McCutchen leads the team in batting average, while Oneil Cruz leads in home runs and Bryan Reynolds leads in RBI. On the defensive side, the Pirates are giving up an average of 4.20 runs per game. In their last game, Burrows struggled on the mound, but the team still managed to secure a win. As of now, the Pirates have a power ranking of 15 and are 22-38 overall, with recent matchups against Houston resulting in a 2-1 record for the Astros.

Astros favored to win against struggling Pirates on money line

The Houston Astros have been particularly successful in their recent performances, winning six of their last eight games. This gives them a clear advantage over the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have only achieved victory in three of their last seven match-ups. Furthermore, Houston's strong batting performance against right-handers positions them well against Pittsburgh's struggling pitcher, Burrows, who has allowed nine runs in just two starts. On the other hand, Pittsburgh's offensive capabilities have been hindered by their difficulties facing right-handed pitchers, especially against Gusto, who has only given up four runs in his last three games. Considering the Astros' current form and the weaknesses in the Pirates' bullpen, it is recommended to bet on Houston to win on the money line.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]