The Houston Astros head to the lost city of Atlanta to start a two-game MLB betting series tonight against the Braves.
Time: 7:35 PM
Venue: SunTrust Park
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on baseball:
Astros-1½ (+105)9½ (+105)-156
Braves+1½ (-125)9½ (-125)+146
Houston
On the mound: Brad Peacock (RHP, 5-1, 2.72 ERA, 73 K) pitched five frames of one-run ball and two hits against the Athletics on Thursday. Peacock has lost one decision in seven starts since his promotion to the starting rotation on May 22nd. Houston is 5-2 in those seven starts, and Peacock has held opposing hitting averages to .198, mostly with his slider – which may or may not call the Feather Train. Peacock has not gone beyond six innings in any of his starts yet.
At bat: Carlos Correa, Jake Marisnick, and Jose Altuve are all batting higher than .350 against the National League in two games against the Braves at Minute Maid Park and three against the Marlins (on May 9-10 and May 15-17, respectively) – all with 10 plate appearances or more. Correa is batting .357, Marisnick .400, and Altuve .444. On a related note, Houston outscored Atlanta and Miami in 34-9 those five games.
Miscellanea: The Astros used five relievers in each game on Friday and Saturday against the Yankees but manager A. J. Hinch has a hunch that they’re “not going to stay at nine relievers.” Houston has been playing with a short bench both quantity and quality-wise, what with ace starter Dallas Keuchel on the disabled list – as well as several other starters. Hinch: “we’ve played a National League series at a National League ballpark this year with a short bench or less of a bench than normal, but we may have to do that again for two days.’ The AL-leading Astros are 5-0 against the NL this season. Following their two-game set in Atlanta, the ‘Stros will go on a four-game visit to Toronto before the midseason break.
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The Astros have and covered in seven of their last eight road games. The MLB betting total has gone over in five of their last six games.
Atlanta
On the mound: Sean Newcomb (LHP, 1-2, 1.48 ERA, 21 K) has lasted at least six innings in each of his four starts and appear to have found a niche in the Braves’ rotation, especially with Bartolo Colon designated for assignment.
Miscellanea: The Bravos are second in the National League East Division eight games behind the Washington Nationals.
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The Braves have won 80% of their last five games at home and are 20-20 in SunTrust Park, where they have defeated the Astros in seven of their last eight meetings. On the other hand, they have covered in only four of their last 13 home games. The MLB betting total has gone under in seven of Atlanta’s last eight games, under in seven of the Braves’ last eight encounters with the ‘Stros, and under in their last five games hosting Houston.