New York Yankees vs Houston Astros Prediction, 3/28/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Yankees vs Houston Astros

Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: YES

Odds/Point Spread: New York (-110) Houston (-110)

The New York Yankees (82-80 last year) are headed to Minute Maid Park on Thursday where they will meet the Houston Astros (90-72 last season). The odds on this game have the Yankees at -110 while the Astros are priced at -110. The total is set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers will be Nestor Cortes Jr and Framber Valdez.

The Yankees compiled 221 doubles as a team and hit 219 baseballs out of the stadium. New York owned a slugging percentage of .397 and were called out on strikes 1,427 times, while being walked on 557 occasions. As a team, the New York Yankees notched 4.2 runs/g, which was 25th in baseball. They accrued 650 RBI's and 1,207 base knocks in the prior season, and their team batting average finished at .227. They accounted for 673 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .304.

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They accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.83 and their pitching staff had a collective WHIP of 1.24. Yankees pitchers conceded 195 home runs and also 698 total runs (10th in MLB). New York conceded 1,272 base knocks (8.0 per 9 innings) in addition to 635 earned runs. The Yankees finished with a team ERA of 3.97 over the course of the prior season (9th in the league), and the staff rung up 1,439 hitters. Their pitching staff walked 508 hitters and their FIP was 4.25 as a squad for the previous season.

The Yankees had sent 503 relief pitchers to the hill over the course of last season. The relief pitchers inherited 249 base runners in the prior season with 35.7% of them crossed home plate. They tallied 44 saves over the course of the prior season and blew 19 out of their 63 chances to get a save. The Yankees relief pitchers recorded a save percentage of 69.8% and stepped onto the mound in 147 save situations. The bullpen earned 83 holds over the course of last season (17th in the league). Yankees pitchers came into the game with runners on base 172 times as well as having 180 contests in high leverage situations.

The Yankees turned 70.4% of balls hit into play into outs out of 12,957 innings, which ranked them 3rd in professional baseball. The New York Yankees accounted for 4,319 putouts for the prior year, in addition to 1,427 assists and 96 errors. Their fielding percentage was at .984 which was 23rd in the majors, and earned 113 double plays.

Cortes Jr has taken the ball for 393 innings and is sitting with 413 strikeouts thus far in his career. His earned run average is 3.82 (167 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.169. He has given up 339 hits (7.8 hits per nine innings) and has 121 free passes. Cortes Jr (24-11 career record) has earned a FIP of 4.21 and he has gone up against 1,623 opposing hitters in the majors.

The Houston Astros tallied a team on-base percentage of .331 as well as a batting average of .259 over the course of the prior season. They struck out on 1,241 instances (28th in baseball) and earned 1,441 base hits. Houston compiled 222 HRs for the prior year in addition to 799 RBIs. The Astros held a team slugging % of .437 and they had an average of 5.10 runs per outing (5th in baseball). They notched 280 two-baggers, while walking 550 times and recording 827 runs.

The Astros held a team WHIP of 1.279 and were the owners of a FIP of 4.31 as a squad over the course of last season. They earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 9.10 (1,460 strikeouts vs 537 free passes). They finished at 8th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,312. They gave up 201 dingers and they allowed 4.35 runs per 9 innings (9th in baseball). The Houston pitching staff allowed 698 runs for the previous season while having an ERA of 3.94 (632 earned runs surrendered).

Houston called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the mound in 61 save chances and they walked away with 42 saves. They ranked 6th in MLB with a save rate of 68.9%, and they dispatched 513 relievers to the mound last season. Their relief pitchers took the field 151 times in high leverage situations and on 97 occasions with runners on. Houston relievers had an inherited score rate of 31.1% of 161 inherited runners. Wrapping up the year with 148 save situations, the Astros had 86 holds and 19 blown saves.

In their 13,008 innings played, the Astros accumulated a efficiency on defense of 69.7% (10th in MLB). The Houston Astros turned 144 double plays and held a fielding percentage of .986 (14th in the majors). The Astros recorded 1,346 assists, 81 errors and earned a total of 4,336 putouts for the previous season.

In his pro baseball career, Valdez has surrendered 601 hits while he has earned 697 punch outs in 712 innings. Valdez (53-34 career mark) has a 3.40 ERA and has given up 7.6 hits per nine innings. He has allowed 269 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.217 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.6. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.62 and he has faced 2,978 opposing batters during his MLB career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston (-110)

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