Thursday, September 8, 2016

Progressive Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: David Paulino vs. Trevor Bauer

The Houston Astros visit Progressive Field on Thursday to play the Cleveland Indians. The probable starters are David Paulino for the Astros and Trevor Bauer for the Indians. The opening line for this matchup has Houston at +146 and Cleveland at -156. The over/under was set at 9. The Astros have a 62-68-8 over/under record and a 63-75-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 46% of the time. The Indians are 66-71-0 against the run line and have a 67-60-10 over/under record. They cover the spread 48% of the time.

The Astros head into this matchup with a 74-64 record, including 35-35 on the road. David Paulino will be making his season debut for Houston. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.44 and they have given up 398 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .229 against the bullpen while being struck out 510 times and walking 110 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 9.01 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.57 batters per nine. They are 9th in the league in team earned run average at 4.00. The Astros pitchers have collectively given up 1,252 base hits and 555 earned runs. They have allowed 161 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a pitching staff has walked 360 batters and struck out 1,191. They walk 2.6 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.6 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.29 and their FIP as a unit is 3.86.

As a team, Houston is batting .247, good for 24th in the league while putting together a .257 average away from home. The Astros hold a .421 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .322 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 23rd in baseball with 8.48 hits per game. George Springer comes into this game hitting .256 and his on-base percentage is at .361. He has 140 hits this season along with 104 runs scored and 75 runs batted in. He's struck out 149 times and has walked 80 times. Jose Altuve is hitting .344 and he has an on-base percentage of .406. He has totaled 187 hits so far while scoring 96 runs and he's driven in 91. He has walked 55 times and has struck out 63 times. The Astros have 1,170 hits, including 254 doubles and 173 home runs. They've stolen 91 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 37 times. Houston has walked 496 times this season and they've struck out 1,257 times as a unit. They've left 952 men on base and have a team OPS of .744. They score 4.6 runs per contest and have scored a total of 635 runs so far this year.

Cleveland comes into this matchup with a 45-25 home record and a 79-58 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.70, Trevor Bauer has a 10-6 record and a 1.27 WHIP. He has 139 strikeouts over the 160.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 143 hits. He has allowed 8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.87. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.42 and they have given up 367 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .233 against the Indians bullpen while being struck out 410 times and walking 161 times this season. As a team, Cleveland has allowed 8.26 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.72 batters per nine. They are 6th in the league in team earned run average at 3.80. The Indians pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,131 base knocks and 520 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 159 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Cleveland as a staff has walked 403 hitters and struck out 1,194. They give up a walk 2.9 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.24 while their FIP as a staff is 3.93.

As a team, they are batting .265, good for 7th in the league while putting together a .292 average at home. The Indians hold a .437 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .328 which is good for 7th in baseball. They rank 6th in baseball with 9.09 hits per contest. Jason Kipnis comes into this matchup batting .284 and he has an OBP of .348. He has 149 hits this year along with 80 runs scored and 76 RBI. He's struck out 124 times and has walked on 52 occasions. Francisco Lindor is hitting .316 and he has an OBP of .362. He has collected 169 hits so far while he's scored 87 runs and drove in 66. He has earned a walk 41 times and has punched out 76 times. The Indians as a unit have 1,245 base hits, including 259 doubles and 168 homers. They have 109 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 27 times. Cleveland as a team has walked 433 times this year and they have struck out 1,074 times. They've had 903 men left on base and have an OPS of .765. They score 4.9 runs per game and have totaled 671 runs so far this season.

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 62-68-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 63-75-0 against the run line so far this season

Cleveland Indians Betting Trends

The Cleveland Indians are 67-60-10 against the over/under so far this season

The Cleveland Indians are 66-71-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Houston Astros

09/06/16 P Dallas Keuchel Shoulder out indefinitely
08/13/16 LF Preston Tucker Shoulder 15-day DL (8/11)
08/03/16 P Lance McCullers Elbow 15-day DL (8/2)
07/29/16 3B Luis Valbuena Hamstring 15-day DL (7/27)

Cleveland Indians

08/31/16 C Yan Gomes Shoulder 60-day DL (7/18)
07/18/16 P Tommy Hunter Back 15-day DL (7/10)
07/07/16 P Zach McAllister Hip 15-day DL (7/6)
06/01/16 LF Marlon Byrd Suspension out for season
05/14/16 LF Michael Brantley Shoulder 60-day DL (5/10); out for season

Josh's Pick: Take the Astros

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