Saturday, August 22, 2015

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Zack Greinke (13-2) vs. Scott Kazmir (6-8)

The Houston Astros welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to Minute Maid Park on Saturday. The Dodgers send Zack Greinke to the mound to face Scott Kazmir of the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles at -125 and Houston at +115. The over/under was set at 6.5. The Dodgers, with a 53-67 run line record, cover the spread 45% of the time. They also have a 60-55 over/under record. The Astros are 64-58 against the run line and have a 54-63 over/under record. They cover the spread 53% of the time.

The Dodgers show up with a 67-53 record, including 25-33 on the road. Zack Greinke has a 13-2 record on the season, an earned run average of 1.58 and a 0.86 WHIP. He's pitched 165.1 innings thus far while surrendering 114 hits over that time and when he starts, the Dodgers are 17-7. The Dodgers are also 11-13 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 4.1 runs when he starts. The bullpen has given up 322 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 4.20. Teams are hitting .247 against the bullpen while being struck out 377 times and walking 115 times this season. As a team, Los Angeles has allowed 8.34 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.43 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.68.

Los Angeles is batting .244 as a team, which is good for 25th in the league and hitting .245 away from home. The Dodgers on-base percentage sits at .306, which puts them at 23rd in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .390. They rank 27th in baseball with 8.2 hits per game and Adrian Gonzalez leads the team with 125.

Houston is 42-21 at home while holding a 66-56 overall record on the season. Scott Kazmir has a record of 6-8 while sporting an earned run average of 2.43 on the year with a 1.12 WHIP. He's pitched 141 innings thus far while surrendering 112 hits over that time in which the Astros are 10-13. The Astros are also 10-12 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 3.7 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has given up 263 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 2.67. Teams are hitting .202 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 353 times and walking 101 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 8.11 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.69 batters per nine. They are 4th in the league in team earned run average at 3.41.

They are batting .241 as a team, which is good for 29th in the league and hitting .246 at home. The Astros on-base percentage sits at .308, which puts them at 22nd in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .418. They rank 29th in baseball with 8.06 hits per game and Jose Altuve leads the team with 143.

In terms of team defense, the Dodgers have a fielding percentage of .988 with 53 total errors, 1,262 assists and 3,185 put outs. For the home team, they hold a .986 team fielding percentage while committing 63 errors, accumulating 1288 assists and compiling 3,277 put outs.

Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 60-55 against the over/under so far this season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 53-67 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 54-63 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 64-58 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Los Angeles Dodgers

08/21/15 RF Yasiel Puig Hamstring is downgraded to not expected to be in the starting lineup Friday vs. Houston Astros
08/14/15 P Juan Nicasio Abdominal Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/10)
08/13/15 P Joel Peralta Rest Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/10)
08/11/15 P Carlos Frias Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (8/2)
04/28/15 P Brandon McCarthy Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/26), out for season
04/06/15 P Bronson Arroyo Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6), out for season
04/06/15 P Hyun-Jin Ryu Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season

Houston Astros

07/02/15 RF George Springer Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
05/19/15 P Samuel Deduno Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/14), out for season
04/17/15 P Brad Peacock Hip Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/14); out for season

Josh's Pick: Take the Astros

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