Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros Prediction, Pick and Preview, April 23 (4/23): MLB

Credit: photo by Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

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Preview

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Houston Astros will play the 2nd game of the series at the Minute Maid Park on Saturday. The Blue Jays won the first game of the series 4-3.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays get here with a 9-5 record and have won 4 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 .320. 

Stripling allowed 3 runs on five hits across 4 innings during Friday's 4-3 win over the Astros. He struck out two and recorded a walk.

Probable Pitcher: 

Alek Manoah (2-0, 1.50 ERA) will take the mound in the 2nd game of the series for the Blue Jays. Manoah allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings Sunday. He struck out six and earned a win over the Athletics. Manoah worked through four shutout frames before Oakland finally ended his 10-inning scoreless streak.

Houston Astros

The Astros get here with a 6-7 record after losing 3 games in a row. The team is averaging 3.42 runs per game with a .200 at bat while allowing 4 runs. Jeremy Pena is batting for .286. Yordan Alvarez has 3 home runs and 6 RBI.

Verlander allowed 3 runs on 4 hits across 6 innings pitched. He struckout 5.

Probable Pitcher:

Jose Urquidy (1-1, 7.00 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros in the 1st game of the series. Urquidy took the loss during Sunday's 7-2 defeat at the hands of the Mariners, allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts in four innings. He had two starts against the Blue Jays last season and allowed 8 runs in 11.1 innings striking out 7.

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 5 games.

Toronto are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.

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

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

Prediction

The Blue Jays will send Alek Manoah to the mound who has been dominant in his last 2 games while the Astros are sending Jose Uruidy who has struggled so far this season and didn't do so well last season against the Blue Jays. Toronto have been better at bat than the Astros so I'll play the Blue Jays to win again and secure the series.

PICK: Blue Jays ML (-118)

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