Houston Astros (48-32) vs. Cleveland Indians (42-33)
July 1, 2021 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Indians +148 / Houston Astros -160; Over/Under: -9.5
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The Houston Astros and the Cleveland Indians meet Thursday in MLB action from Progressive Field. The Astros are coming off a series versus the Orioles this week. Houston lost the first two games, then on Wednesday the Astros fell again to complete the sweep. As for the Indians, they played Detroit in their last set. Cleveland won Monday, then in the Wednesday doubleheader the Indians lost the opener and fell in the nightcap as well. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Houston fell to the Orioles 9-7 on Monday, then had an even worse loss 13-3 on Tuesday. In the Wednesday finale the Astros gave up four runs in the first inning on the way to a 5-2 defeat. Luis Garcia put up 4.0 innings with four earned on three hits and three walks.
For the starter job in the Thursday game, the Astros will send out Framber Valdez. This year over 38.1 innings of work, Valdez is 4-1 with a 2.11 ERA and 35 strikeouts in six starts.
Over on the Indians’ side, they managed a big 13-5 win over the Tigers on Monday. In the Wednesday doubleheader, Cleveland lost game one 9-4. In the nightcap the Indians lost another one, this time 7-1.
For the starter job in the Thursday game, the Indians will send out JC Mejia. Across 23.2 innings in eight games (five starts) this year, Mejia has a 4.94 ERA and a 1-2 record.
The Astros are 16-5 in their last 21 Thursday games and 9-3 in their last 12 versus a right-handed starter. Houston is 74-31 in their last 105 in game one of a series and 51-21 in their last 72 versus the AL Central.
Meanwhile, the Indians are 6-1 in their last seven in game one of a series and 27-10 in their last 37 with the total set at 7.0-8.5. Cleveland is 3-7 in their last 10 home games versus a lefty starter and 69-31 in their last 100 Thursday games.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Astros. Mejia is coming off a solid 4.0 innings versus the Orioles with four hits, one walk and two earned. That said he coughed up six earned on seven hits in 5.0 innings in his start prior. As for Valdez, he’s got six earned on 17 hits in 20.0 innings over his last three starts, going 2-1 in that stretch. I like Valdez to put up a good start here and put Houston in a nice spot.
