Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros Prediction, 4/18/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros

Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Toronto (-105) Houston (-115)

The Houston Astros (7-9) will play the Toronto Blue Jays (10-6) at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday. The line on this matchup has Toronto at -105 while Houston is sitting at -115. The over/under comes in at 9.5. The pitchers taking the mound will be Chris Bassitt and Jose Urquidy.

Toronto has a slugging rate of .410 and have struck out 124 times, while being walked on 55 occasions. They have amassed 75 runs batted in and 156 base knocks so far this year, and their team batting average is at .277. The Blue Jays have compiled 25 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 16 baseballs out of the park. They have accounted for 80 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .346. As a team, the Toronto Blue Jays are notching 5.0 runs per game, which is 9th in MLB.

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The Blue Jays have compiled a team ERA of 4.63 for the season (20th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 146 hitters. Blue Jays pitchers have given up 24 home runs in addition to 80 runs (21st in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 56 opposing players and their FIP is 4.80 as a unit so far this year. Toronto has given up 137 base hits (8.7 per 9 innings) and 73 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.61 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.36.

The Blue Jays have dispatched 62 relievers to the hill for the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 27 runners for the season with 25.9% of those runners crossed home plate. They have recorded 8 saves on the season and have blown 2 of 10 save opportunities. The Blue Jays relief pitchers have a save percentage of 80.0% and has entered the game in 22 save situations. The relievers have accumulated 12 holds over the course of the season (10th in MLB). Blue Jays pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 18 times and also have had 16 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Toronto Blue Jays have a tally of 426 putouts thus far, in addition to 122 assists and 6 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .989 which has them ranked 11th in baseball, and they have turned 14 double plays. The Blue Jays have converted 69.2% of balls in play into outs in their 1,278 innings on the field, which has them ranked 14th in professional baseball.

Bassitt has taken the mound for 752 frames and has racked up 683 K's so far in his pro baseball career. Bassitt (47-36 career win-loss mark) sits with a FIP of 3.89 while he has faced 3,160 batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.54 (296 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.205. He has conceded 671 base hits (8.0 hits per 9 innings) and has had 236 free passes.

The Astros have a slugging percentage of .379 and they are recording 4.81 runs per outing (12th in MLB). They have put up 24 two-baggers, while getting a free base 65 times and scoring 77 runs. Houston has compiled 16 HRs on the season and 74 RBIs. They have struck out on 134 instances (18th in baseball) and have earned 136 base hits. The Houston Astros have earned an on-base percentage of .334 in addition to a batting average of .248 for the season.

The Astros have a WHIP of 1.311 in addition to having a FIP of 3.89 as a team for the year. They come in at 19th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 140. The Houston pitching staff have allowed 70 runs on the year while having a team ERA of 3.50 (56 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 9.30 (150 strikeouts vs 49 free passes). They have surrendered 16 dingers and they surrender 4.37 runs per 9 innings (12th in the league).

With 7 save situations, the Astros have earned 2 holds in addition to 3 blown saves. Houston has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 5 save chances and they have walked away with 2 saves. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 13 times in high leverage situations and on 8 occasions with runners on. Houston relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 46.2% of 13 inherited runners. They are currently ranked 28th in the league holding a save percentage of 40.0%, and they have sent 51 relief pitchers onto the diamond over the course of the season.

In 1,302 innings played, the Astros have a efficiency on defense of 67.5% (23rd in the majors). The Houston Astros have turned 10 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .988 (13th in pro baseball). The Astros have accrued 150 assists, 7 errors and have 434 putouts over the course of the season.

In his career, Urquidy has given up 317 hits while he has earned 294 punch outs in 357 innings. He has given up a total of 146 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.103 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.4. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.82 and he has gone up against 1,452 batters during his career. Urquidy (25-13 career win-loss mark) holds a 3.68 ERA and has surrendered 8.0 hits per 9 innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Houston (-115)

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