American League divisional leaders clash when the Astros and Yankees open an interesting four-game weekend series Thursday night in the Bronx. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
As of this writing, Thursday’s MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, as New York toyed with its expected starting pitching situation.
Astros vs. Yankees Set-Up
Houston just got swept three games at Cincinnati earlier this week, losing Wednesday’s series finale 3-2 by blowing a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning. Just before that the Astros lost the final game of a three-game series against Toronto. So Houston lugs a four-game losing streak into Thursday night.
At 48-27 overall the Astros still lead the AL West by 8.5 games over second-place Texas.
New York, meanwhile, just swept three games at home from rival Tampa Bay, beating Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell Wednesday 12-1. Just before that the Yankees took the last two games of a series against the White Sox in Chicago. So New York rides a five-game winning streak into Thursday night.
At 46-27 overall the Yanks now lead the AL East by 3.5 games over the second-place Rays.
This series is the second meeting between these two teams this season; back in April, the Astros swept three games from the Yankees down at Minute Maid Park.
Thursday’s Starting Arms
Green will be starting as an “opener” Thursday for the fifth time this season. Last Saturday he tossed two scoreless innings against the White Sox, with six strikeouts, and 11 days ago he threw two scoreless innings against Cleveland. Over his last seven outings, Green has allowed just one run and eight hits through 9 1/3 innings.
The “opener” thing seems to work for the Yankees, who are 5-0 in games Green has started this season.
Over his last three appearances against Houston, two last year and one earlier this season, Green allowed four runs and five hits through three innings.
Lefty Valdez is 2/2 on quality starts this season, to go along with 14 appearances in relief. Twelve days ago he held Baltimore to one run and five hits through seven innings of a game Houston eventually lost 4-1. And last Saturday he held Toronto to two runs and four hits through six innings of a 7-2 Astros win.
On the season Valdez has allowed 31 hits through 39 innings, with 36 strikeouts against 15 walks.
This will be Valdez’s first-ever appearance against the Yankees, which could give him an edge, at least for the first couple of times through the lineup.
Thursday’s Batting Splits
Houston is batting .260/.334/.454 against right-handed pitching this season, although it seems a good bet the Astros will face some left-handed pitching after Green Thursday night. Whatever the case, this lineup has also scored a total of just seven runs over its last four games.
New York is batting .234/.306/.376 against left-handed pitching this season. This lineup has also scored at least six runs four times in its last five games, and just added Edwin Encarnacion, who’s tied for the lead in the American League in homers.
The Bullpens
The Astros bullpen owns a 3.54 ERA this season and a 1.15 WHIP.
The Yankees pen owns a 3.92 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.
Both these bullpens rank among the top five relieving corps in Baseball this season.
Totals Report
- Unders are 41-30 in Astros games this season.
- Overs are 39-31 in Yankees games this season.
- Unders are 23-14 in games played at Yankee Stadium this season.
- Overs are 2-0-1 in Astros-Yankees games this season.
- Get more details: Astros at Yankees MLB Match-up Stats
