Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/23/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Space City Home Network

The Chicago Cubs (13-9) are welcoming the Houston Astros (7-16) at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The expected starting pitchers are J.P. France and Jordan Wicks.

As a team, the Houston Astros are notching 4.2 runs/g, which puts them at 18th in MLB. They have earned a total of 96 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .332. The Astros have earned 43 doubles as a team and have hit 24 baseballs out of the stadium. They have amassed 93 runs batted in and 214 base knocks for the season, and their team batting average is at .266. Houston has a slugging rate of .409 and have struck out 154 times, while taking a walk on 76 occasions.

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They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.82 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.51. Astros pitchers have given up 20 home runs and 124 runs in total (29th in the league). Houston has allowed 209 base hits (9.3 per 9 innings) and also 115 earned runs. The Astros are sitting with a team earned run average of 5.10 for the year (29th in the league), and the staff has struck out 177 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 97 opposing players and their FIP is 4.31 as a squad on the year.

The Astros have dispatched 82 relief pitchers to the hill for the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 30 runners on the year with 26.7% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. They have accumulated 2 saves this season and have blown 6 of 8 save chances. The Astros relief pitchers have recorded a save rate of 25.0% and has stepped onto the mound in 18 save situations. The bullpen have a total of 10 holds on the season (24th in the league). Astros pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 18 times and also have had 22 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Astros have turned 67.1% of baseballs in play into outs out of 1,827 innings, which has them ranked 26th in professional baseball. The Houston Astros have earned 609 putouts this year, in addition to 201 assists and 13 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .984 which puts them in 16th in baseball, and they have turned 22 double plays.

France has pitched in 156 innings and has earned 117 punch outs during his career. His ERA is 4.25 (74 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.398. He has allowed 164 base knocks (9.4 hits per nine innings) and has 55 walks. France (11-8 career win-loss mark) has a FIP of 4.69 while he has faced 679 hitters in the majors.

Chicago has recorded 23 home runs over the course of the season as well as 109 runs batted in. They have tallied 35 two-baggers, while getting a free base 84 times as well as scoring 119 runs. The Chicago Cubs have an on-base percentage of .327 in addition to a batting average of .247 so far this season. The Cubs have a team SLG% of .408 and they are scoring 5.41 runs per game (6th in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 188 occasions (13th in the league) and have recorded 183 base hits.

The Cubs have a WHIP of 1.300 and have a FIP of 4.08 as a staff on the campaign. They rank 15th in the league as a staff in total hits allowed with 175. The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 101 runs so far this season while having a team ERA of 4.13 (90 earned runs yielded). Their K/BB ratio sits at 9.10 (199 strikeouts against 80 bases on balls). They have given up 23 home runs and they concede 4.63 runs per 9 innings (20th in MLB).

With 27 save situations, the Cubs have amassed 15 holds in addition to 6 blown saves. Chicago has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 11 save opportunities and they have earned 5 saves. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 32 times in high leverage situations and also on 24 occasions with base runners. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 42.9% out of 35 inherited base runners. They are currently ranked 25th in the league with a save rate of 45.5%, and they have sent 78 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond this season.

Out of their 1,770 innings on the field, the Cubs have earned a efficiency on defense of 69.6% (18th in baseball). The Chicago Cubs have gotten 17 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .982 (21st in baseball). The Cubs have racked up 187 assists, 14 errors and have amassed 590 putouts for the year.

Thus far in his career, Wicks has allowed 54 hits and he has 48 punch outs in 51 innings. He has allowed 27 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.432 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.2. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.40 and he has faced 232 opposing batters during his career. Wicks (4-3 career record) is the owner of a 4.70 earned run average and has allowed 9.4 hits per 9 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston

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