Houston Astros vs Miami Marlins Prediction, 8/16/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Miami Marlins

Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Location: loanDepot park in Miami, FL

TV: Bally Sports Florida

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-108) Miami (-112)

The Houston Astros (68-51) are headed to loanDepot park on Wednesday where they will attempt to defeat the Miami Marlins (62-57). The odds on this game have the Astros at -108 while the Marlins are coming in at -112. The over/under has been set at 7.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Justin Verlander and Jesus Luzardo.

Houston has a slugging % of .417 and have been called out on strikes 947 times, while taking a walk on 400 occasions. They have compiled 561 runs batted in as well as 1,015 base knocks this season, while their average at the plate is sitting at .251. The Astros have accumulated 193 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 153 balls out of the park. They have accounted for 580 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .324. As a squad, the Houston Astros are earning 4.9 runs per game, which has them at 7th in the league.

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The Astros have compiled a team ERA of 3.77 for the season (3rd in MLB), and the staff has struck out 1,074 hitters. Astros pitchers have yielded 142 long balls and 494 runs in total (9th in MLB). They have walked 391 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.25 as a squad this season. Houston has relinquished 951 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and 445 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.75 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.26.

Astros pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 72 times in addition to having 123 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have recorded 64 holds on the campaign (15th in baseball). The Astros bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 69.2% and has entered the game in 117 save situations. They have recorded 36 saves on the campaign and have blown 16 of 52 save chances. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 120 base runners on the year and 31.7% of them ended up crossing the plate. The Astros have sent 374 relievers to the hill so far this season.

The Houston Astros have 3,185 putouts for the season, as well as 1,022 assists and 58 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .986 which ranks 14th in pro baseball, and have a total of 113 double plays. The Astros have turned 69.8% of balls in play into outs out of 9,555 innings, ranking them 9th in baseball.

Verlander has taken the hill for 3,270 innings and has accounted for 3,290 K's thus far in his career. His ERA is 3.24 (1,177 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.118. He has surrendered 2,744 hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has 913 walks. Verlander (251-139 career mark) has a FIP of 3.38 while he has gone up against 13,319 opposing batters during his time in the majors.

The Miami Marlins have accumulated an on-base percentage of .318 and a team batting average of .262 so far this season. They have been rung up on 955 occasions (24th in MLB) and have accounted for 1,061 base hits. Miami has recorded 111 home runs for the year as well as 463 runs batted in. The Marlins hold a slugging percentage of .401 and they are earning 4.08 runs per game (27th in baseball). They have recorded 192 doubles, while walking 310 times as well as scoring 485 runs.

The Marlins hold a team WHIP of 1.275 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.99 as a squad so far this year. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.70 (1,133 strikeouts vs 369 walks). They have a ranking of 14th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 977. They have conceded 137 home runs and they allow 4.47 runs per 9 innings (15th in baseball). The Miami pitching staff have allowed 525 runs this season while holding a team ERA of 4.20 (493 earned runs given up).

Miami has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 54 save chances and they have tallied 31 saves. They rank 22nd in baseball with a save percentage of 57.4%, and they have sent 399 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of the season. Their relief pitchers have come in 152 times in high leverage situations and on 119 occasions with base runners. Miami bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.0% of 171 inherited base runners. With 126 save situations, the Marlins have recorded 71 holds and also 23 blown saves.

The Miami Marlins have turned 106 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .983 (25th in baseball). The Marlins have recorded 1,045 assists, 71 errors and have earned a total of 3,169 putouts for the year. In their 9,507 innings played, the Marlins hold a defensive efficiency of 68.1% (25th in professional baseball).

During his career, Luzardo has surrendered 366 base hits while accumulating 450 punch outs in 400 innings. Luzardo (21-25 win-loss mark in his career) holds a 4.36 ERA and has conceded 8.2 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 194 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.266 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.0. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.19 and he has faced 1,687 opposing hitters thus far in his career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Miami (-112)

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