Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros Expert MLB Picks Against the Spread 8/20/2019
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Minute Maid Park
Get todays MLB odds and lines on this game.
Probable Pitchers: Spencer Turnbull vs. Aaron Sanchez
George Springer and the Houston Astros (79-46, 1st in AL West) play the Detroit Tigers (37-84, 5th in AL Central) at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. The Astros open this game at -360 while the Tigers are priced at +315. The over/under is set at 9.5.
The Tigers have been awful for bettors, having gone 37-84-0 SU. The Astros cover 63.2% of the time, going 79-46-0 straight up.
Valuable Detroit Tigers Betting Trends
The Tigers have been a less than ideal Over bet for over/under MLB wagerers, having gone 54-59-8.
Detroit covers 33.3% of the time away from home, having gone 20-40-0 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 less than ideal Over bet for over/under MLB wagerers, having gone 55-66-4.
Key Detroit Tigers Injuries
8/15/2019 Jeimer Candelario 3B Thumb Expected to be out until at least Aug 19
8/14/2019 Blaine Hardy RP Elbow Out for the season
8/14/2019 JaCoby Jones CF Wrist Out for the season
8/14/2019 Christin Stewart LF Concussion Expected to be out until at least Aug 21
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
8/18/2019 Aledmys Diaz 2B Head Expected to be out until at least Aug 28
8/17/2019 Gerrit Cole SP Hamstring Expected to be out until at least Aug 22
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 37-84 overall record this season. Starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull has a 3-11 record with an earned run average of 3.75 and a WHIP of 1.34 this season. He has 106 strikeouts over his 112.2 innings pitched and he's given up 107 hits. He's allowed 8.5 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.93. The bullpen has an earned run average of 5.09 and they have given up 480 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .261 against the bullpen and they've struck out 422 hitters and walked 212 batters. As a team, Detroit allows 9.6 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.4 batters per nine innings. They are 28th in the league in team earned run average at 5.12. The Tigers pitchers collectively have given up 1,155 base hits and 618 earned runs. They have allowed 185 home runs this season, ranking them 7th in the league. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 402 batters and struck out 1,009. They have walked 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.4 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.43 and their FIP as a unit is 4.82.
Related: Get MLB tips & picks on all of today's games
Hitting Statistics
As a team Detroit is hitting .235, good for 30th in the league. The Tigers hold a .385 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .293, which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 29th in MLB with 8.1 hits per game. Miguel Cabrera is hitting .278 with an on-base percentage of .339. He has 111 hits this season in 400 at bats with 48 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .390 and an OPS+ of 91. Niko Goodrum is hitting .249 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .322. He has totaled 104 hits and he has driven in 44 men in 418 at bats. His OPS+ is 92 while his slugging percentage is at .416. The Tigers have 986 hits, including 225 doubles and 112 home runs. Detroit has walked 317 times so far this season and they have struck out 1,205 times as a unit. They have left 820 men on base and have a team OPS of .678. They score 3.61 runs per contest and have scored a total of 440 runs this year.
Useful Pitching Statistics
Houston has a 79-46 overall mark this year. With an earned run average of 5.79, Aaron Sanchez has a 5-14 record and a 1.61 WHIP. He has 114 strikeouts over the 129 innings he's pitched. He also has given up 141 hits. He's allowing 9.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.16. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.78 and they have given up 361 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .225 against the Astros bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 457 batters and walked 149 opposing hitters. As a team, Houston allows 7.5 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 3.74. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 932 base knocks and 467 earned runs this season. They have given up 182 home runs this year, which ranks 8th in Major League Baseball. Houston as a staff has walked 350 hitters and struck out 1,255 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 4.11.
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. George Springer comes into this matchup batting .293 with an OBP of .375. He has 108 hits this year along with 67 RBI in 369 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .566 with an OPS+ of 145. Michael Brantley is hitting .335 this season and he has an OBP of .392. He has collected 154 hits in 460 at bats while driving in 74 runs. He has an OPS+ of 145 and a slugging percentage of .541. The Astros as a unit have 1,185 base hits, including 245 doubles and 212 homers. Houston has walked 478 times this year and they have struck out on 888 occasions. They have had 894 men left on base and have an OPS of .836. They have scored 5.48 runs per game and totaled 685 runs this season.
Who will win tonight's Tigers/Astros MLB game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Tigers
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