Major League Baseball on Wednesday afternoon and we will see the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles do battle at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Free Pick to follow. First pitch is scheduled for a 4:35 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised on the MLB Network.
Betting Odds
Astros +101
Orioles -111
Over/ Under: 8.5 U -120
This is game 3 of a 3 game series between these American League foes. The teams have split the first 2 games of this series, with Baltimore winning the opener 4-3 and last night it was Houston that took a 4-1 decision. Houston is in first place in the AL West, 6.5 games ahead of the Angels, while the Orioles check in at 4th place in the AL East. Houston ranks 9th in scoring (4.45 rpg), while on the mound they are 7th in ERA (3.53). Baltimore ranks 11th in scoring (4.35 rpg), while on the mound they are 17th in ERA (3.98).
Trends for this game include: The Astros are 17-4 in their last 21 games as an underdog and 17-5 in their last 22 games vs. a right-handed starter, but just 3-11 in the last 14 meetings in Baltimore. The Orioles have gone 43-17 in their last 60 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5 and 7-1 in Jimenez's last 8 home starts, but just 4-9 in Jimenezs last 13 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Getting the ball for Houston today will be Colin McHugh, who is 5-2 on the year with a 4.06 ERA overall, while on the road he has gone 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA. Colin has faced the O's just once in his career and he is 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA in that starts, allowing 2 ERs on 7 hits in 6.1 innings of work in that game.
Taking the hill for the Orioles today will be Ubaldo Jimenez, who is pitching very well this year as he has a 2.82 ERA, despite his 3-3 record. At home he has gone 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 4 starts. Ubaldo has very nice numbers vs the Astros, as he is 4-0 with a 2.24 ERA in 9 starts vs them in his career.
Pick: I like the Under in this game. Both starter have been solid this year and we note that the Under is 14-3-2 in Baltimore's last 19 games vs a right handed starter. Colin McHugh has allowed more than 3 ERs in a start just twice this year, while Ubaldo has really looked like his old self as he has a 2.82 ERA overall and a 1.29 ERA at home. McHugh has a 2.08 ERA in his 2 day starts, while Ubaldo didn't allow an ER in his lone day start this year and we also note that he has allowed 1 ER or less in 6 of his last 7 starts vs the Astros. The offense has not been great for these teams of late and I expect that to continue here vs some very solid pitching.
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MLB Free Pick: Twins vs. Red Sox
Pro handicapper Teddy Covers likes the early game as a total play at the line of 8.5 runs at -120. Another pro capper, Steve Fezzik, also likes the line, explaining how 8.5 is a much better number than 9 when it comes to betting totals. Teddy thinks there is still a little time to capitalize on the surging Twins thanks to a less than ideal pitching line-up for Boston's Rick Porcello.