Cleveland Guardians vs Houston Astros Prediction, 7/31/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cleveland Guardians vs Houston Astros

Date: Monday, July 31, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

The Cleveland Guardians (52-51) are en route to Minute Maid Park on Monday where they will meet the Houston Astros (58-45). The expected starting pitchers are Noah Syndergaard and J.P. France.

The Guardians have tallied 192 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 79 baseballs out of the stadium. Cleveland is slugging .387 and have struck out 714 times, while taking a walk on 303 occasions. As a team, the Cleveland Guardians are compiling 4.2 runs per game, which puts them at 23rd in the league. They have 408 runs batted in as well as 896 base knocks this season, and their team batting average sits at .254. They have 434 runs scored while having a team OBP of .317.

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They have a K/BB ratio of 2.59 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.26. Guardians pitchers have relinquished 104 long balls in addition to 425 runs (6th in MLB). Cleveland has surrendered 847 hits (8.2 per 9 innings) as well as 394 earned runs. The Guardians have an earned run average of 3.84 on the season (7th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 823 batters. They have walked 318 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.10 as a team for the season.

Guardians relief pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 91 times in addition to having 128 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have a total of 58 holds so far this year (13th in the league). The Guardians bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 59.6% and has entered the game in 114 save situations. They have recorded 31 saves on the season and have blown 21 of their 52 chances to save the game. The relievers have inherited 119 runners this year and 23.5% of them crossed the plate. The Guardians have sent 337 relief pitchers to the mound this season.

The Cleveland Guardians have a tally of 2,773 putouts on the year, in addition to 934 assists and 48 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .987 which ranks 10th in MLB, and have a total of 70 double plays. The Guardians have converted 70.4% of balls hit into play into outs in their 8,319 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 6th in baseball.

Syndergaard has taken the hill for 908 frames and has 910 K's in his MLB career. Syndergaard (58-45 career mark) sits with a FIP of 3.23 and he has faced 3,759 hitters in the majors. His earned run average is 3.65 (368 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.193. He has given up 877 hits (8.7 hits per nine innings) with 206 free passes.

The Houston Astros are sitting with a team OBP of .318 as well as a team batting average of .248 for the year. They have been called out on strikes on 808 occasions (27th in MLB) and have notched a total of 864 hits. Houston has hit 129 home runs on the year as well as 467 RBIs. The Astros hold a team slugging percentage of .412 and they earn 4.70 runs per game (12th in MLB). They have 171 doubles, while taking a walk 330 times as well as earning 484 runs.

The Astros hold a team WHIP of 1.275 in addition to having a FIP of 4.18 as a squad this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 9.20 (945 strikeouts against 332 free passes). They are sitting at 14th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 841. They have relinquished 121 dingers and they allow 4.25 runs per 9 innings (8th in baseball). The Houston pitching staff have relinquished 435 runs so far this season while holding an ERA of 3.81 (390 earned runs relinquished).

With 107 save situations, the Astros have tallied 58 holds and 16 blown saves. Houston has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the mound in 48 save opportunities and they have recorded 32 saves. Their relievers have come in 108 times in high leverage situations in addition to 61 occasions with runners on. Houston relievers have an inherited score rate of 33.3% out of their 99 inherited runners. They are ranked 9th in baseball with a save percentage of 66.7%, and they have sent 327 relievers to the hill this season.

The Houston Astros have turned 94 double plays and have a fielding rate of .986 (15th in MLB). The Astros have racked up 877 assists, 51 errors and have 2,762 putouts for the year. Out of their 8,286 innings on the diamond, the Astros have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 69.1% (16th in MLB).

Thus far in his career, France has surrendered 79 hits while he has accumulated 58 K's in 84 innings pitched. He has allowed a total of 27 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.217 and having a FIP of 4.3. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.42 and he has faced 348 batters in his pro baseball career. France (6-3 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a 2.87 ERA and has surrendered 8.4 hits per nine innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Cleveland

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