The Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros meet Tuesday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. This matchup marks the second installment in a three-game series. On Monday in the opener, Houston kicked things off with a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Cleveland Guardians 

The Guardians managed to split a four-game series with the White Sox over the weekend with wins Thursday and Sunday. In the finale victory, Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez managed two homers and three RBI. On Monday Cleveland blew an early 2-0 lead and ended up falling 7-3. Steven Kwan, Bo Naylor and Myles Straw each had an RBI in the defeat. 

For the starter job Tuesday the Guardians are going with Gavin Williams. This season over seven starts Williams is 1-2 with a 3.35 ERA and 31 Ks in 37.2 innings. Williams is coming off 4.0 clean innings in a no-decision versus Kansas City. 

Cleveland Guardians Team Facts

• The Guardians have lost each of their last four games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine Tuesday road games against American League opponents.
• The Guardians have led after 5 innings in six of their last seven games as road underdogs.
• The Guardians have led after 3 innings in each of their last three games as road underdogs.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last four night games against AL West opponents.

Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts

• Josh Bell has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances with the Guardians as underdogs against AL opponents.
• Josh Naylor has recorded at least one total base in 15 of his last 16 road appearances against AL opponents.
• Josh Bell has scored at least one run in each of his last three appearances at Minute Maid Park.
• Josh Bell has hit a home run in two of his last three road appearances against the Astros.
• Josh Naylor has recorded at least one RBI in six of the Guardians’ last seven night games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Josh Naylor ranks 6th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.306) this season.

Houston Astros 

Over on the Astros’ side, they lost two of three to the Rays over the weekend. In Sunday’s game, Houston’s Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman each had an RBI in an 8-2 defeat. On Monday Houston got two runs and three walks from Jose Altuve. Kyle Tucker put up two RBI and a run, while Yordan Alvarez slapped a three-run homer. 

It’ll be Framber Valdez in the starting role for the Astros on Tuesday. Across his 20 starts this year Valdez is 8-7 with a 3.29 ERA and 134 Ks in 126.0 innings. Valdez is 2-2 with a 5.14 ERA in his last seven starts, striking out 45 in 42.0 innings. 

Houston Astros Team Facts

• The Astros have lost four of their last five games as home favourites against AL Central opponents following a win.
• The Astros have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games against American League opponents following a home win.
• The Astros have trailed after 5 innings in three of their last four games as favourites against American League opponents.
• The Astros have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four games as favourites against AL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last five games as home favourites against AL Central opponents.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Framber Valdez has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last 12 home appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
• Alex Bregman has hit a home run in four of the Astros’ last five games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Astros’ last four night games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Yordan Alvarez has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 15 games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Jose Altuve has recorded three or more total bases in each of his last five appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Houston Astros ranks 4th in the league for strikeouts against this season (834).
• The Houston Astros ranks 5th in the league for ERA this season (3.82).
• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (741).
• The Cleveland Guardians ranks 30th in the league for home runs this season (82).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m going to take a stab on the Guardians here. Williams has given up three earned runs over 13.0 total innings on 12 hits and 10 walks over his last three starts. Williams is just 0-1 in that trio however, so he’ll need some backup in order to get this W. As for Valdez, he’s struggling these days with 15 earned runs in 15.0 innings over his last three starts. Cleveland will have some base runners early if the bats are working in game two. On Monday the Guardians’ bullpen really had an off night after a pretty good start from Noah Syndergaard (5.1 innings; one earned). Cleveland is going to have to get better on both sides if Williams is going to have a shot at a W, but I think it’s possible.