Chicago Cubs vs Houston Astros Prediction, 5/17/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Houston Astros

Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+120) Houston (-140)

The Chicago Cubs (19-22) are en route to Minute Maid Park on Wednesday where they will attempt to defeat the Houston Astros (22-19). The line on this matchup has the Cubs at +120 and the Astros are at -140. The over/under comes in at 9.5. The expected starting pitchers will be Drew Smyly and J.P. France.

As a team, the Chicago Cubs are compiling 4.8 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 10th in MLB. They have accumulated 197 runs and hold an OBP of .339. The Cubs have accrued 67 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 49 balls out of the stadium. They have amassed 190 RBI's in addition to 376 base knocks for the season, while their team batting average is at .266. Chicago is slugging .424 and have been rung up 367 times, while being walked on 150 occasions.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.80 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.21. Cubs pitchers have conceded 40 long balls in addition to 170 runs (9th in MLB). Chicago has surrendered 320 base knocks (7.9 per 9 innings) in addition to 161 earned runs. The Cubs have an earned run average of 3.97 on the year (12th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 341 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 122 opposing players and their FIP is 3.99 as a squad so far this year.

The Cubs bullpen have earned a save rate of 55.6% and has stepped onto the mound in 29 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 42 base runners this season and 21.4% of those players crossed the plate. Cubs relief pitchers have come into the game with opponents on base 29 times and also have had 32 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 133 relief pitchers to the hill on the season. The relief pitchers have 20 holds this year (16th in the league). They have compiled 5 saves this season and have blown 4 of 9 save chances.

The Chicago Cubs have notched a total of 1,094 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 385 assists and 17 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .989 which puts them in 8th in professional baseball, and have 41 double plays. The Cubs have turned 70.7% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 3,282 innings on the field, which ranks them 7th in MLB.

Smyly has taken the ball for 988 innings and has racked up 960 K's during his pro baseball career. Smyly (57-48 career mark) has earned a FIP of 4.25 while going up against 4,144 hitters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 4.05 (445 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.253. He has allowed 936 base hits (8.5 hits per nine innings) and has had 302 free passes.

The Astros have a team slugging % of .368 and they score 4.32 runs per contest (19th in baseball). They have recorded 63 doubles, while getting a free base 123 times as well as putting up 177 runs. Houston has tallied 36 home runs over the course of the season as well as 171 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 329 occasions (26th in MLB) and have tallied 331 base knocks. The Houston Astros are sitting with a team on-base percentage of .310 and a batting average of .241 on the campaign.

The Houston pitching staff have given up 151 runs for the season while having a team ERA of 3.31 (134 earned runs relinquished). They have allowed 41 dingers and they allow 3.73 runs per 9 innings (4th in MLB). The Astros have a team WHIP of 1.203 in addition to having a FIP of 3.67 as a team so far this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 9.80 (398 strikeouts vs 114 bases on balls). They are sitting at 8th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 324.

Houston has called on relievers to enter the contest in 17 save opportunities and they have converted 12 saves. They are ranked 5th in the league with a save rate of 70.6%, and they have dispatched 131 relievers to the hill this year. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 38 times in high leverage situations and on 21 occasions with base runners. Houston bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 25.0% out of 36 inherited base runners. With 36 save situations, the Astros have accumulated 18 holds and 5 blown saves.

Out of their 3,282 innings on the field, the Astros hold a defensive efficiency of 68.8% (16th in MLB). The Houston Astros have turned 36 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .990 (6th in baseball). The Astros have accrued 340 assists, 15 errors and have amassed 1,094 putouts this season.

So far in his career, France has surrendered 6 base hits while tallying 8 strikeouts in 11 innings. He has allowed 1 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 0.686 and a FIP of 3.8. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 4.00 and he has faced 44 opposing batters during his career. France (1-0 career win-loss record) has a 0.77 ERA while conceding 4.6 hits per 9 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (-140)

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