Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros Prediction, Pick and Preview, April 22 (4/22): MLB

Credit: photo by Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

Time	8:10 p.m. EST
Blue Jays money line	+139
Blue Jays run line	+1.5 (-140)
Astros money line	-165
Astros run line	-1.5 (+120)
Over / under	8

 

Key stats

	Toronto Blue Jays	Houston Astros
Record	8-5	6-6
Road / home record	4-3	1-2
Last 10 record	6-4	4-6
Streak	W1	L2
Over / under record	4-9	5-7
Runs / game	4.00	3.42
Runs allowed / game	3.85	4.00

 

Preview

The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Houston to take on the Astros in a 3-game series at the Minute Maid Park. The Blue Jays won their last series against the Red Sox while the Astros lost at home against the Angels.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays get here with a 4-3 record and have won 3 of their last 5 games. The team is still showing great offense and are averaging .252 at bat scoring 4 runs per game and allowing 3.85 runs.  Vladimir Guerrero is on fire with 5 home runs 11 RBI and batting for an average of .304. 

Gausman (1-1) earned the win after allowing one run on seven hits across eight innings during Thursday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox. He struck out eight and didn't record a walk.

Probable Pitcher: 

Ross Stripling (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will take the mound in the 1st game of the series for the Blue Jays. Stripling made his first start of the season Friday versus the A's as a sixth starter for the Blue Jays, but he could now have a more regular role after Ryu suffered his injury Saturday. Stripling was limited to 62 pitches against Oakland but pitched well with four scoreless innings, allowing two hits with four strikeouts and zero walks. In his last 2 starts against the Astros he has a 4.39 ERA and 7 strikeouts.

Houston Astros

The Astros get here with a 6-6 record after losing their last 2 games against the Angels. The team is averaging 3.42 runs per game with a .199 at bat while allowing 4 runs. Jeremy Pena is batting for .308. Yordan Alvaerrz has 3 home runs and 6 RBI.

Valdez (1-1) took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings in Tuesday's 7-2 loss against the Angels.

Probable Pitcher:

Justin Verlander (1-1, 0.69 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros in the 1st game of the series. Verlander (1-1) picked up the win during Saturday's 4-0 shutout of Seattle, allowing three hits with eight strikeouts in eight scoreless innings. If there were any doubts about Verlander's potential to remain effective, they were put to rest Saturday. The 39-year-old righty was masterful in permitting just four baserunners while recording twice as many strikeouts. He required 87 pitches to get through the eight innings. In his last game against the Blue Jays he threw 9 scoreless innings and struckout 14.

BETTING TRENDS

Toronto are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games.

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

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

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games against Toronto.

Prediction

The Astros struggled offensively in their last 2 games against the Angels but they will have their ace Verlander on the mound who threw 8 scoreless innings in his last game. The Blue Jays are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs Astros and the total has gone under in 6 of their last 7 games. Strippling has been sharp in his last 2 outings so I expect a low scoring game. Take the under. 

PICK: Under 8  (-110)

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