Houston Astros vs Cleveland Indians Prediction, 7/1/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Cleveland Indians

Date: Thursday, July 1, 2021

Location: Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH

TV: SportsTime Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-192) Cleveland (+145)

Progressive Field is the venue where Jean Carlos Mejia and the Cleveland Indians (42-33, 2nd in AL Central) will play the Houston Astros (48-32, 1st in AL West) on Thursday. The Astros open this contest at -192 while the Indians are coming in at +145. The O/U opens at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound will be Framber Valdez and Jean Carlos Mejia.

As a squad, the Houston Astros are compiling 5.7 runs per game, which is 1st in the league. They have a total of 452 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .352. The Astros have hit 154 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 103 balls out of the stadium. They have 432 runs batted in and 765 base knocks on the campaign, while their batting average is .277. Houston has a slugging % of .449 and have struck out 584 times, while being walked on 304 occasions.

The Astros have a team earned run average of 3.66 for the season (9th in the league), and the staff has rung up 710 hitters. They have walked 256 batters and their FIP comes in at 4.10 as a team on the campaign. Their K/BB ratio is 2.77 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.18. Astros pitchers have given up 95 home runs and also 322 total runs (11th in the league).

The Astros have dispatched 239 relief pitchers to the hill for the year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 107 base runners this season and 42.1% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. They have accumulated 16 saves so far this year and have not converted 13 of 29 chances to get a save. The Astros relief pitchers have a save rate of 55.2% and stepped onto the hill in 63 save situations. The bullpen have recorded 33 holds this season (22nd in the league). Astros pitchers have come into the game with opponents on base 70 times in addition to having 82 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Astros have converted 72.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of 6,417 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 2nd in baseball. The Houston Astros have amassed 2,139 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 674 assists and 31 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .989 which is 1st in MLB, and have accumulated 587 double plays.

Valdez has pitched in 216 frames and has earned 213 K's during his MLB career. Valdez (17-12 career win-loss mark) holds a FIP of 3.99 and he has gone up against 926 hitters in the majors. His earned run average is 3.82 (92 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.297. He has given up 188 base knocks (7.8 hits per nine innings) with 93 walks.

The Cleveland Indians have compiled an OBP of .298 in addition to a team batting average of .230 on the campaign. They have been called out on strikes on 618 occasions (29th in MLB) and are sitting with 564 hits. Cleveland has hit 91 long balls on the year as well as 315 runs batted in. The Indians hold a team SLG% of .395 and they average 4.43 runs per game (14th in MLB). They have put up 109 doubles, while walking 213 times as well as scoring 332 runs.

The Cleveland pitching staff have allowed 327 runs on the year and come in with a team ERA of 4.24 (308 earned runs surrendered). They have allowed 94 dingers and they give up 4.51 runs per 9 innings (15th in baseball). The Indians hold a team WHIP of 1.277 in addition to having a FIP of 4.15 as a squad on the year. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 2.70 (725 strikeouts against 269 bases on balls). They have a ranking of 4th in the league as a staff in total hits allowed with 565.

With 62 save situations, the Indians have compiled 33 holds in addition to 5 blown saves. Cleveland has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 27 save opportunities and they have recorded 22 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 70 times in high leverage situations and on 67 occasions with runners on. Cleveland relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 31.5% of 92 inherited base runners. They are currently ranked 1st in baseball holding a save rate of 81.5%, and they have dispatched 248 relief pitchers onto the diamond this season.

The Cleveland Indians have twisted 60 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .985 (10th in baseball). The Indians have accrued 634 assists, 40 errors and have accounted for 1,961 putouts over the course of the season. In 5,883 innings played, the Indians have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.9% (15th in baseball).

So far in his career, Mejia has conceded 21 base hits and he has 22 strikeouts in 23 innings. He has allowed a total of 13 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.183 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.3. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.14 and he has faced 93 hitters so far in his career. Mejia (1-2 career win-loss record) has a 4.94 ERA while giving up 8.0 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (-192)

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