The Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros meet Saturday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game series over the weekend. In the Friday opener, the Reds eked out a victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds played the Royals this week, bagging a three-game sweep with wins 5-4, 5-4 and 7-4. On Friday versus Houston Cincinnati notched five hits in a 2-1 win. Andrew Abbott managed 6.0 clean frames in the start with four hits and two walks.
For the starter gig in the Saturday matchup the Reds will send out Hunter Greene. Over his 13 starts this year Greene is 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA and 97 Ks in 67.1 innings. Greene is 6-17 with a 4.29 career ERA in 37 starts.
Houston Astros
Over on the Astros’ side, they took on the Nationals this week. Houston won the first pair but lost on Thursday 4-1. In the Friday matchup the Astros couldn’t score until the ninth in the loss. Starter Jonathan Patrick France managed 6.2 innings with two earned on four hits and a walk.
Brandon Bielak will be the starter for Houston on Saturday. Over eight games (seven starts) this year Bielak is 3-3 with a 4.01 ERA and 34 Ks in 42.2 innings. Bielak is 9-10 with a 4.80 ERA in 53 games (15 starts) during his career.
The Reds are 5-1 in their last six in game two of a series and 5-2 in the last seven Saturday games. Cincinnati is 17-38 in their last 55 versus a team with a winning record.
Meanwhile, the Astros are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games and 5-1 in their last six in game two of a series. Houston is 21-9 in their last 30 on grass.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll stick with the Reds in this one. Greene has been doing well over his last three starts, combining for 17.1 innings, four earned, eight hits and seven walks. As for Bielak, he’s given up eight earned on 19 hits and three walks over his last 11.2 frames. On Friday the Reds managed a great pitching performance overall and the middle relief put up 2.0 clean frames with just one hit and no walks. If Cincinnati can keep that up they’ll be in line for another win here.