Houston Astros (44-28) vs. Baltimore Orioles (23-49)
June 23, 2021 7:05 pm EDT
The Line: Baltimore Orioles +175 / Houston Astros -190; Over/Under: -10.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles meet Wednesday in MLB action from Oriole Park. This will be the final installment in a three-game series between these teams this week. The Astros won the Monday game, then in the Tuesday matchup Houston kept it going with a two-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Houston posted 13 team hits in Monday’s game one, powering their way to a 10-2 result. In the Tuesday game two, the Astros posted eight team hits in a 3-1 victory. Zack Greinke went 7.1 innings with five hits and one earned.
For the Wednesday starting pitcher role, the Astros are going with Jose Urquidy. Over his 69.0 innings this year, Urquidy has 57 hits, 28 earned runs, 11 homers allowed, 12 walks and a 3.65 ERA overall.
Over on the Orioles’ side, they could only find two hits in the Monday game and fell behind 10-0 at one point. In the Tuesday matchup, Baltimore managed just one run on six hits during the loss. Jorge Lopez went 6.1 innings with five hits and two earned runs.
For the starter job in the Wednesday game, the Orioles are going with Thomas Eshelman. In his return to the Major Leagues this year, Eshelman posted 4.2 innings with three hits, one earned (a homer), one walk and three Ks.
The Astros are 6-0 in their last six Wednesday games and 10-2 in their last 12 in game three of a series. Houston is 16-5 in their last 21 road games with the total set at 11.0 or higher and the over is 20-7-1 in their last 28 in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are 26-58 in their last 84 versus the AL West and 14-39 in the last 53 Wednesday games. Baltimore is 2-7 in their last nine in game three of a series and the over is 3-0-1 in their last four in game three of a series.
PICK: I’m sticking with the Astros, but probably staying away. I’d like to take Baltimore on the reliance of another decent outing form Eshelman. He put up three hits and just the one run in his 4.2 innings versus the Blue Jays. That said, Urquidy has been solid over his last two games with five earned in 14.0 innings (and three homers). As long as Urquidy can avoid any major meltdowns Houston should be fine.
