Thursday, April 21, 2016

Globe Life Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Dallas Keuchel vs. A.J. Griffin

The Houston Astros visit Globe Life Park on Thursday to play the Texas Rangers. The probable starters are Dallas Keuchel for the Astros and A.J. Griffin for the Rangers. The opening line for this matchup has Houston at -140 and Texas at +130. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Astros have a 8-5-1 over/under record and a 3-11-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 21% of the time. The Rangers are 8-6-0 against the run line and have a 9-5-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 57% of the time.

The Astros head into this matchup with a 5-9 record, including 2-5 on the road. Starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel has a 2-1 record with an earned run average of 2.18 and a WHIP of 1.21. He has 17 strikeouts over his 20.2 innings pitched and he has given up 14 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.01. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 5.00 and they have given up 44 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the bullpen while being struck out 52 times and walking 14 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 9.89 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.11 batters per nine. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 4.98. The Astros pitchers have collectively given up 133 base hits and 67 earned runs. They have allowed 22 home runs this season and they allow 1.6 homers per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a pitching staff has walked 38 batters and struck out 109. They walk 2.8 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.1 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.41 and their FIP as a unit is 4.56.

As a team, Houston is batting .241, good for 18th in the league while putting together a .238 average away from home. The Astros hold a .450 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .311 which is good for 17th in baseball. They rank 20th in baseball with 7.86 hits per game. Jose Altuve comes into this game hitting .304 and his on-base percentage is at .381. He has 17 hits this season along with 14 runs scored and 10 runs batted in. He's struck out 9 times and has walked 6 times. Carlos Correa is hitting .271 and he has an on-base percentage of .352. He has totaled 13 hits so far while scoring 6 runs and he's driven in 7. He has walked 6 times and has struck out 9 times. The Astros have 110 hits, including 25 doubles and 21 home runs. They've stolen 13 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 5 times. Houston has walked 45 times this season and they've struck out 138 times as a unit. They've left 81 men on base and have a team OPS of .758. They score 4 runs per contest and have scored a total of 56 runs so far this year.

Texas comes into this matchup with a 4-3 home record and a 8-6 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.27, A.J. Griffin has a 1-0 record and a 1.36 WHIP. He has 6 strikeouts over the 11 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 9 hits. He has allowed 7.4 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.78. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 5.86 and they have given up 46 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .269 against the Rangers bullpen while being struck out 37 times and walking 14 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 8.47 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.11 batters per nine. They are 17th in the league in team earned run average at 4.16. The Rangers pitchers as a team have surrendered 118 base knocks and 58 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 24 home runs this year and they give up 1.7 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Texas as a staff has walked 50 hitters and struck out 99. They give up a walk 3.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.34 while their FIP as a staff is 5.28.

As a team, they are batting .258, good for 8th in the league while putting together a .256 average at home. The Rangers hold a .382 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .321 which is good for 10th in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.57 hits per contest. Adrian Beltre comes into this matchup batting .288 and he has an OBP of .345. He has 15 hits this year along with 6 runs scored and 11 RBI. He's struck out 3 times and has walked on 5 occasions. Elvis Andrus is hitting .375 and he has an OBP of .422. He has collected 15 hits so far while he's scored 7 runs and drove in 8. He has earned a walk 4 times and has punched out 4 times. The Rangers as a unit have 120 base hits, including 28 doubles and 10 homers. They have 6 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 5 times. Texas as a team has walked 40 times this year and they have struck out 114 times. They've had 85 men left on base and have an OPS of .703. They score 4.86 runs per game and have totaled 68 runs so far this season.

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 8-5-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 3-11-0 against the run line so far this season

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 9-5-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 8-6-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Houston Astros

04/04/16 P Lance McCuller Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
04/02/16 C Max Stassi Wrist 15-day DL (3/29)

Texas Rangers

04/11/16 C Robinson Chirinos Forearm 60-day DL (4/9)
04/10/16 RF Shin-Soo Choo Calf 15-day DL (4/9)
04/10/16 P Tanner Schepper Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 RF Josh Hamilton Knee 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Luke Jackson Back 15-day DL (3/25)
04/03/16 C Chris Gimenez Ankle 15-day DL (3/27)
04/03/16 P Yu Darvish Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Josh's Pick: Take the Rangers

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald