The World Champion Astros ride a six-game winning streak into the opener of a three-game series with the first-place Brewers in Milwaukee Monday night. Christian Javier and his 0.97 WHIP hit the hill for Houston here against former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes for the Brew Crew.
Which way are we going for our free Hou/Mil pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Monday’s baseball betting market opened this game at right around a pick ‘em, with an over/under of eight runs. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action.
Astros-Brewers Betting Preview
Houston just swept three games at home from lowly Oakland over the weekend by scores of 5-1, 3-2 and 2-0. Just before that the Astros swept three games from the Cubs and just before that they took two of three from the White Sox. Going back a bit further Houston is 4-0 over its last four series and 10-1 over its last 11 games.
At 27-19 overall the Astros sit in second place in the AL West, two games behind first-place Texas.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, just dropped two of three games at Tampa Bay over the weekend, avoiding the sweep by winning Sunday’s series finale 6-4. Just before that the Brewers lost two of three at St. Louis. So Milwaukee is 0-2 over its last two series and 2-4 over its last six games.
At 25-21 overall Milwaukee leads the NL Central by one game over second-place Pittsburgh.
This series is the first meeting between these two teams since 2019.
Monday’s Pitching Match-Up
Burnes is 4/9 on quality starts this season and three for his last four. Last Wednesday against the Cardinals he allowed three runs and eight hits through six innings of a 3-0 Milwaukee defeat. But over his last four starts he’s allowed nine runs – six earned – and 19 hits through 24 innings, with nine walks against 24 strikeouts.
The Brewers are 5-4 with Burnes this season and that’s about what they should be, based on his performances.
This will be Burnes’ first career start against Houston.
Javier is 5/9 on quality starts this year, working on a run of three in a row. Last Tuesday he held the Cubs to one run and two hits through six frames of a 7-3 Astros victory. And over his last three starts he’s allowed just six runs and seven hits through 19 innings, with five walks against 24 whiffs.
Houston is 7-2 with Javier this season and that’s also about what it should be.
This will be Javier’s first career start against Milwaukee.
Splits With the Sticks
The Astros are batting .244 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .314 team OBP and a .362 team slugging percentage. This line-up also just received a boost with the return of spark-plug Jose Altuve.
The Brewers are slashing .249/.326/.406 against right-handed pitching.
The Bullpens
The Milwaukee bullpen owns a 3.93 ERA this season, along with a 1.29 WHIP and a 2.26 K/BB ratio.
The Houston pen owns a 3.01 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and a 3.12 K/BB ratio.
MLB Betting Trends
Houston is 13-8 on the road this season and 19-14 against right-handed starters.
Milwaukee is 13-8 at home and 17-13 against right-handed starters.
Totals Report
- The unders are 23-22 in Astros games this season.
- The unders are 24-21 in Brewers games.
- The unders are 11-9 at American Family Field this season.
- The overs are a combined 11-7 with Burnes and Javier this season.
