Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros Expert MLB Picks Against the Spread 8/21/2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Minute Maid Park
Get todays MLB odds and lines on this game.
Probable Pitchers: Daniel Norris vs. Justin Verlander
Michael Brantley and the Houston Astros (80-46, 1st in AL West) host the Detroit Tigers (37-85, 5th in AL Central) at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. The Tigers open this contest at +375 while the Astros are priced at -425. The O/U opens at 8.5.
The Tigers have been great for Vegas oddsmakers, having gone 37-85-0 SU. Houston is covering 63.5% of the time, going 80-46-0 straight up.
Valuable Detroit Tigers Betting Trends
The Tigers have been an inconsistent Over pick for over/under baseball bettors, having gone 54-60-8.
Detroit is covering 32.8% of the time away from home, having gone 20-41-0 straight up.
Important Houston Astros Betting Trends
Houston is covering 74.6% of the time at Minute Maid Park, going 44-15-0 SU.
The Astros have been an inconsistent Over pick for over/under baseball bettors, having gone 55-67-4.
Key Detroit Tigers Injuries
8/20/2019 Niko Goodrum SS Groin Expected to be out until at least Aug 21
8/20/2019 Matthew Boyd SP Paternity List Expected to be out until at least Aug 23
8/19/2019 Jeimer Candelario 3B Thumb Expected to be out until at least Aug 20
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
8/19/2019 Carlos Correa SS Back Probable for Aug 20
8/18/2019 Aledmys Diaz 2B Head Expected to be out until at least Aug 28
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 37-85 overall record this season. Starting pitcher Daniel Norris has a 3-10 record with an earned run average of 4.82 and a WHIP of 1.41 this season. He has 105 strikeouts over his 123.1 innings pitched and he's given up 139 hits. He's allowed 10.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.86. The bullpen has an earned run average of 5.06 and they have given up 481 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .260 against the bullpen and they've struck out 428 hitters and walked 213 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 5.11. The Tigers pitchers collectively have given up 1,163 base hits and 622 earned runs. They have allowed 185 home runs this season, ranking them 7th in the league. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 407 batters and struck out 1,021. 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 4.79.
Related: Get MLB tips & picks on all of today's games
Hitting Statistics
As a team Detroit is hitting .236, good for 30th in the league. The Tigers hold a .386 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .294, 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 .322. He has 104 hits this season in 418 at bats with 44 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .416 and an OPS+ of 92. Miguel Cabrera is hitting .280 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .341. He has totaled 113 hits and he has driven in 49 men in 403 at bats. His OPS+ is 92 while his slugging percentage is at .392. The Tigers have 1,000 hits, including 226 doubles and 114 home runs. Detroit has walked 318 times so far this season and they have struck out 1,219 times as a unit. They have left 831 men on base and have a team OPS of .680. They score 3.61 runs per contest and have scored a total of 444 runs this year.
Useful Pitching Statistics
Houston has a 80-46 overall mark this year. With an earned run average of 2.81, Justin Verlander has a 15-4 record and a 0.84 WHIP. He has 228 strikeouts over the 169.2 innings he's pitched. He also has given up 108 hits. He's allowing 5.7 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.59. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.77 and they have given up 365 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .225 against the Astros bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 463 batters and walked 150 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 946 base knocks and 471 earned runs this season. They have given up 184 home runs this year, which ranks 8th in Major League Baseball. Houston as a staff has walked 351 hitters and struck out 1,269 batters. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 10.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.15 while their FIP as a staff is 4.10.
Hitting Statistics
As a team, they are batting .274, good for 2nd in the league. The Astros hold a .486 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 .335 with an OBP of .393. He has 155 hits this year along with 74 RBI in 463 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .540 with an OPS+ of 144. George Springer is hitting .293 this season and he has an OBP of .378. He has collected 109 hits in 372 at bats while driving in 67 runs. He has an OPS+ of 145 and a slugging percentage of .565. The Astros as a unit have 1,193 base hits, including 247 doubles and 212 homers. Houston has walked 483 times this year and they have struck out on 900 occasions. They have had 902 men left on base and have an OPS of .834. They have scored 5.48 runs per game and totaled 690 runs this season.
Who will win tonight's Tigers/Astros MLB game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take the Tigers (+375)
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