Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros Expert MLB Picks 8/19/2019
Monday, August 19, 2019
Minute Maid Park
Get todays MLB odds and lines on this game.
Probable Pitchers: Edwin Jackson vs. Gerrit Cole
Minute Maid Park is the site where Michael Brantley and the Houston Astros (78-45, 1st in AL West) will take on the Detroit Tigers (37-82, 5th in AL Central) on Monday.
The Tigers have been very good for Las Vegas oddsmakers, having gone 37-82-0 SU. The Astros cover 63.4% of the time, going 78-45-0 straight up.
Valuable Detroit Tigers Betting Trends
The Tigers have been a pretty good Under bet for over/under MLB wagerers, having gone 53-58-8.
Detroit covers 34.5% of the time on the road, having gone 20-38-0 straight up.
Important Houston Astros Betting Trends
The Astros cover 74.1% of the time at Minute Maid Park, going 43-15-0 SU.
The Astros have been a pretty good Under bet for over/under MLB wagerers, having gone 54-65-4.
Key Detroit Tigers Injuries
8/15/2019 Jeimer Candelario 3B Thumb Expected to be out until at least Aug 19
8/15/2019 Jordan Zimmermann SP Neck Expected to be out until at least Aug 17
8/14/2019 Christin Stewart LF Concussion Expected to be out until at least Aug 21
8/14/2019 JaCoby Jones CF Wrist Out for the season
8/14/2019 Blaine Hardy RP Elbow Out for the season
8/11/2019 Tyson Ross SP Elbow Expected to be out until at least Sep 11
7/24/2019 Grayson Greiner C Back Expected to be out until at least Aug 27
4/30/2019 Matt Moore SP Knee Out for the season
3/23/2019 Michael Fulmer SP Elbow Out for the season
10/25/2019 Artie Lewicki RP Elbow Out for the season
Key Houston Astros Injuries
8/13/2019 Gerrit Cole SP Hamstring Expected to be out until at least Aug 19
8/13/2019 Brad Peacock SP Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Aug 20
8/13/2019 Josh James RP Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Sep 1
6/9/2019 Lance McCullers SP Elbow Out for the season
Useful Pitching Statistics
The Tigers have a 37-82 overall record this season. Starting pitcher Edwin Jackson has a 3-5 record with an earned run average of 8.62 and a WHIP of 1.84 this season. He has 27 strikeouts over his 39.2 innings pitched and he's given up 57 hits. He's allowed 12.9 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 8.13. The bullpen has an earned run average of 5.11 and they have given up 472 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .261 against the bullpen and they've struck out 416 hitters and walked 205 batters. As a team, Detroit allows 9.7 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.3 batters per nine innings. They are 28th in the league in team earned run average at 5.18. The Tigers pitchers collectively have given up 1,144 base hits and 613 earned runs. They have allowed 184 home runs this season, ranking them 7th in the league. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 393 batters and struck out 989. They have walked 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.44 and their FIP as a unit is 4.85.
Related: Get MLB predictions on all of today's games
Hitting Statistics
As a team Detroit is hitting .237, good for 30th in the league. The Tigers hold a .387 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .295, which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 29th in MLB with 8.1 hits per game. Niko Goodrum is hitting .249 with an on-base percentage of .323. He has 103 hits this season in 413 at bats with 44 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .416 and an OPS+ of 93. Miguel Cabrera is hitting .281 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .342. He has totaled 111 hits and he has driven in 48 men in 395 at bats. His OPS+ is 94 while his slugging percentage is at .395. The Tigers have 973 hits, including 220 doubles and 111 home runs. Detroit has walked 314 times so far this season and they have struck out 1,169 times as a unit. They have left 809 men on base and have a team OPS of .682. They score 3.63 runs per contest and have scored a total of 436 runs this year.
Useful Pitching Statistics
Houston has a 78-45 overall mark this year. With an earned run average of 2.87, Gerrit Cole has a 14-5 record and a 0.98 WHIP. He has 226 strikeouts over the 156.2 innings he's pitched. He also has given up 114 hits. He's allowing 6.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.11. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.77 and they have given up 353 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .223 against the Astros bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 453 batters and walked 147 opposing hitters. As a team, Houston allows 7.4 hits per nine innings while striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings. They are 4th in the league in team earned run average at 3.72. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 913 base knocks and 458 earned runs this season. They have given up 181 home runs this year, which ranks 8th in Major League Baseball. Houston as a staff has walked 344 hitters and struck out 1,242 batters. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 10.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.14 while their FIP as a staff is 4.12.
Hitting Statistics
As a team, they are batting .274, good for 2nd in the league. The Astros hold a .487 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .349, which is good for 1st in baseball. They rank 3rd in MLB with 9.5 hits per contest. Michael Brantley comes into this matchup batting .332 with an OBP of .389. He has 150 hits this year along with 74 RBI in 452 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .542 with an OPS+ of 144. George Springer is hitting .292 this season and he has an OBP of .377. He has collected 105 hits in 359 at bats while driving in 67 runs. He has an OPS+ of 147 and a slugging percentage of .574. The Astros as a unit have 1,165 base hits, including 242 doubles and 209 homers. Houston has walked 471 times this year and they have struck out on 878 occasions. They have had 877 men left on base and have an OPS of .836. They have scored 5.5 runs per game and totaled 677 runs this season.
Who will win tonight's Tigers/Astros MLB game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Astros
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