The San Francisco Giants welcome in the Houston Astros tonight in Major League Baseball action. The game is scheduled for an 10:10 p.m. start time and it will be televised live in both markets. Currently the odds for the game have the Giants favored to pick up the victory in this matchup at home.
The Giants are a couple of games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Houston has lived the life of stockpiling young players and having the "wait until next year" type of attitude. Finally it's starting to pay off as the youngsters for the Astros are Major League ready and playing well.
Tonight the Astros are looking to get things right again. They've dropped seven of their last 10 games overall but still have been able to hold a lead over the Angels in the AL West. The Giants have been struggling themselves, also losing seven of their last 10 games overall. In this series-opening game the Astros are sending newly-acquired Scott Kazmir to the mound.
Kazmir is 6-6 this season, sporting a 2.08 ERA and doing pretty solid on the road, despite having four losses in 10 starts. Kazmir is allowing Giants to hit .267 against him in 30 at bats, Nori Aoki has three hits in six at bats. Hunter Pence has homered and both he and Justin Maxwell have two hits in their careers off Kazmir, who will be looking to get above the .500 mark for the third time this season.
The Giants will send Madison Bumgarner to the mound in this solid pitching matchup. Bumgarner is 12-6 with a 3.28 ERA and he has been very good at home. Through 11 starts he's 5-2 with a 2.43 ERA in home games, striking out 81 hitters in 74 innings of work. Bumgarner has held opposing hitters to an average of just .227 at home as well.
Current Astros have an average of .281 against him in 57 plate appearances. Jose Altuve has a home run and five hits overall in 14 at bats (.357), Jed Lowrie and Evan Gattis each have decent numbers against him as well.
With two solid pitchers on the mound, runs will be at a premium tonight. Bumgarner has been very good at home, that will once again be the difference tonight.
Free Pick: Giants
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