Detroit Tigers vs Houston Astros Prediction, Pick and Preview, May 5 (5/5): MLB

Credit: photo by  Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Odds

Key stats

Preview

The Detroit Tigers will visit the Houston Astros to play a 4-game series at the Minute Maid Park. The Astros swept the Mariners in their last series while the Tigers tied 1-1 a short series vs Pirates.

Detroit Tigers

The Tigers get here with a 8-15 record and have lost 8 of their last 10 games. The team is averaging 3.13 runs per game and allowing 4.14 runs. Austin Meadows is batting for .299 AVG and Spencer Torkelson leads with 3 home runs and 8 RBI.

Jacob Barnes leads the pitching staff and has 2 wins recorded with a 0.96 ERA and 3 strikeouts so far. 

Probable Pitcher:

Tarik Skubal (1-2, 3.05 ERA) will be on the mound for the Tigers in the 1st game of the series. Skubal allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits across five innings to take the loss Thursday against the Twins. He walked two and struck out four. He started one game against the Astros last season and held them to only 1 run striking out 9 batters across 7 innings.

Houston Astros

The Astros get here with a 14-11 record and have won 3 straight games. The team is averaging 3.84 runs per game and are allowing 3.58 runs. Alex Bregman has 4 home runs and 16 RBI. Michael Brantley is batting for .282 avg and Yordan Alvarez has 8 home runs.

Cristian Javier (2-0) allowed two hits over 5 1/3 innings in his second start after opening the season in the Houston bullpen.

Probable Pitcher:   Jose Urquidy (2-1, 5.95 ERA)

Urquidy will be on the mound in the 1st game of the series for the Astros. Urquidy allowed four runs on one walk and seven hits over five innings Friday, striking out six and earning a win over Toronto.

BETTING TRENDS

Detroit are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against Houston.

Detroit are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games on the road.

The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Houston's last 10 games.

Houston are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home.

Prediction

The Tigers are currently one of the worst offenses in the MLB averaging 3.1 runs per game. The Astros swept the Mariners but the offense hasn't been great. Urquidy has struggled this season but it's just a matter of time for him to be better. With Skubal pitching for the Tigers and both offenses struggling I think the best play is the under.

PICK: Under 8 (-110)

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