Houston Astros (9-9) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (12-7)
April 29, 2022 7:07 pm EDT
The Line: Toronto Blue Jays -120 / Houston Astros +110; Over/Under: -7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Friday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. Houston just finished up a series versus the Rangers. The Astros won two of the first three games in that set, then on Thursday Houston got by with a one-run victory. As for the Blue Jays, they’re coming off a series versus the Red Sox. Toronto similarly won two of the first three, then on Friday the Jays took a one-run win as well. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Houston took a spotty 6-2 loss to the Rangers Tuesday, but then bounced back with sins 5-1 and 4-3 in the next pair. On Thursday, the Astros scored two key runs in the eighth during a 3-2 victory. Justin Verlander managed 7.0 innings with one earned on four hits.
For the starter job in the Friday matchup, Houston will send out Jose Urquidy. Over three starts this season so far Urquidy is 1-1 with a 5.52 ERA. In 14.2 innings total Urquidy has managed 18 hits, nine earned, two walks and seven Ks.
Over on the Toronto side, they won 6-2 and 6-5 in the first pair versus Boston this week, then fell 7-1 on Wednesday. In game four, the Blue Jays had six hits in a 1-0 victory. Alejandro Kirk provided the lone RBI, and Alek Manoah was great on 7.0 clean innings with three hits and a walk.
Starting pitcher for the Blue Jays on Friday will be Yusei Kikuchi. In 2022 so far, Kikuchi is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. He’s got 12.0 innings total with 11 hits, five earned runs, 10 walks and nine Ks. Kikuchi is 15-25 in his MLB career with a 4.93 ERA.
Houston is 97-42 in their last 139 in game one of a series and 78-37 in the last 115 Friday games. The Astros are 6-14 in their last 20 as an underdog.
Meanwhile, the Jays are 4-0 in their last four Friday games and 6-1 in their last seven in game one of a series. Toronto is 37-17 in the last 54 overall.
PICK: I’m going to take a stab on Houston. Urquidy has two pretty good starts and one not-so-good start this year. The only real ugly outing was 4.0 innings with six earned on eight hits and a walk versus Seattle back on April 17. Aside from that Urquidy has 10.2 innings with three earned on 10 hits and one walk. He should be okay here. On Thursday, Houston didn’t exactly have a glut of offense but they got the job done. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one as another lower-scoring affair either.
