Sunday, August 23, 2015

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Clayton Kershaw (10-6) vs. Lance McCullers (5-4)

The Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park on Sunday. The probable starters are Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers and Lance McCullers for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles at -113 and Houston at +103. The over/under was set at 10.5. The Dodgers have a 60-56 over/under record and a 53-68 run line mark, meaning they cover 44% of the time. The Astros are 65-58 against the run line and have a 54-64 over/under record. They cover the spread 53% of the time.

The Dodgers come into this game with a 67-54 record, and they are 25-34 away from home. Clayton Kershaw has an earned run average of 2.34 and is 10-6 so far on the season while having a 0.92 WHIP. In his starts, the Dodgers are 13-11 over his 169 innings pitched this season while giving up 124 hits during those innings. The Dodgers are also 10-13 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 3.9 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 4.18 and they've given up 322 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .246 against the bullpen while being struck out 380 times and walking 115 times this season. As a team, Los Angeles has allowed 8.37 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.42 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.70.

Los Angeles ranks 25th in the league in team batting average at .244 while hitting .245 on the road. Ranked at 24th in the league in on-base percentage, the Dodgers sit at .306 and they hold a .390 team slugging percentage. They rank 27th in baseball with 8.18 hits per game and Adrian Gonzalez leads the team with 125.

With a 67-56 overall record, Houston will come into this game 43-21 at home. Lance McCullers is starting this game 5-4 for the season with an earned run average of 3.17 and a WHIP of 1.21. In his starts, the Astros are 6-8 and he has allowed 65 hits over 76.2 innings pitched this season. The Astros are also 6-5 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 4.3 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 2.67 and they have given up 263 hits on the season. 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 8.04 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.71 batters per nine. They are 4th in the league in team earned run average at 3.38.

They rank 29th in the league in team batting average with a .241 average while hitting .246 at home. Ranked at 22nd in the league in on-base percentage, the Astros sit at .307 and they hold a .418 team slugging percentage. They rank 29th in baseball with 8.05 hits per game and Jose Altuve leads the team with 144.

The Dodgers have committed 53 errors and have combined for 1,273 assists and 3,209 put outs leading to a .988 team fielding percentage. For the home team, they hold a .986 team fielding percentage while committing 63 errors, accumulating 1294 assists and compiling 3,304 put outs.

Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 60-56 against the over/under so far this season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 53-68 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 54-64 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 65-58 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Los Angeles Dodgers

08/22/15 RF Yasiel Puig Hamstring missed last game, "?" Saturday 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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