Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros Prediction, 4/17/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros

Date: Monday, April 17, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Toronto (-110) Houston (-110)

The Houston Astros (7-8) will try to beat the Toronto Blue Jays (10-5) at Minute Maid Park on Monday. The line on this matchup has the Blue Jays at -110 and the Astros are sitting at -110. The betting total comes in at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Kevin Gausman and Cristian Javier.

Toronto has a slugging rate of .420 and have struck out 117 times, while drawing a walk on 51 occasions. They have accumulated 74 RBI's and 150 base knocks for the year, and their team batting average is sitting at .282. The Blue Jays have tallied 23 doubles as a unit and have hit 16 baseballs out of the park. They have racked up 79 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .350. As a unit, the Toronto Blue Jays are notching 5.3 runs per game, which has them sitting at 9th in baseball.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.72 and the pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.32. Blue Jays pitchers have given up 23 home runs in addition to 72 total runs (20th in MLB). Toronto has allowed 126 base hits (8.5 per 9 innings) as well as 65 earned runs. The Blue Jays have an earned run average of 4.40 on the year (16th in MLB), and they have rung up 136 hitters. They have walked 50 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 4.83 as a team this year.

The Blue Jays have dispatched 58 relievers to the hill for the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 26 base runners on the year and 26.9% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have accumulated 8 saves on the year and have missed out on 2 out of their 10 chances to get a save. The Blue Jays relievers have a save rate of 80.0% and has come into the game in 22 save situations. The bullpen are sitting with 12 holds this season (10th in MLB). Blue Jays bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 17 times as well as having 16 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Blue Jays have transformed 69.6% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 1,197 innings on the field, which ranks them 12th in professional baseball. The Toronto Blue Jays have notched a total of 399 putouts for the season, in addition to 115 assists and 6 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .988 which is 13th in baseball, and have a total of 14 double plays.

Gausman has taken the hill for 1,372 frames and is sitting with 1,391 punch outs during his career. Gausman (77-83 win-loss record in his career) holds a FIP of 3.67 while facing 5,771 hitters in the majors. His earned run average is 3.90 (594 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.273. He has given up 1,369 hits (9.0 hits per 9 innings) and has had 377 free passes.

The Houston Astros hold an on-base percentage of .335 as well as a batting average of .254 for the year. They have been called out on strikes on 126 occasions (17th in MLB) and have totaled 132 base hits. Houston has knocked in 16 home runs this year to go along with 73 RBIs. The Astros have a team SLG% of .390 and they earn 5.07 runs per outing (11th in the league). They have 23 doubles, while taking a walk 58 times and putting up 76 runs.

The Astros hold a team WHIP of 1.324 with a FIP of 3.97 as a squad on the year. They are currently ranked 21st in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 132. The Houston pitching staff have conceded 61 runs on the campaign while having an ERA of 3.66 (55 earned runs yielded). Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.20 (139 strikeouts vs 47 walks). They have allowed 15 homers and they concede 4.06 runs per 9 innings (6th in baseball).

Houston has called on relief pitchers to step onto the mound in 5 save opportunities and they have tallied 2 saves. They are currently ranked 27th in the league holding a save rate of 40.0%, and they have dispatched 49 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond on the year. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 13 times in high leverage situations and also on 7 occasions with runners on base. Houston relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 30.0% out of 10 inherited base runners. With 7 save situations, the Astros have compiled 2 holds and 3 blown saves.

Out of their 1,221 innings played, the Astros are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 67.6% (21st in baseball). The Houston Astros have turned 10 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .991 (5th in professional baseball). The Astros have accrued 139 assists, 5 errors and have amassed 407 putouts for the season.

In his MLB career, Javier has allowed 210 hits and he has 392 strikeouts in 321 frames. Javier (21-12 career mark) holds a 3.11 ERA and has given up 5.9 hits per 9 innings. He has conceded 111 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.043 and a FIP of 3.9. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.14 and he has faced 1,294 opposing batters so far in his career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (-110)

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