The Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros meet Friday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Houston Astros vs Detroit Tigers prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
The Tigers are fresh off a series versus the Washington Nationals this week. Detroit took a couple of tough losses 5-4 and 7-5 in the first two games. In the Thursday finale the Tigers powered out a 7-2 victory with five runs in the seventh inning. Casey Mize went 6.0 frames in the start with one earned on four hits and a walk.
For the starter gig in the Friday matchup the Tigers will send out Tarik Skubal. This year Skubal is 8-1 with a 1.92 ERA and 96 Ks in 79.2 inning over 13 starts. In his career Skubal is 31-28 with a 3.53 ERA in 88 games (85 starts).
Houston Astros Betting Preview
Over on the Astros’ side, they played the San Francisco Giants in their last series. Houston took a 4-3 loss Monday, then evened things up with a 3-1 victory in game two. The Astros dropped the series with a 5-3 loss in the finale. Starter Framber Valdez gave up all five earned on eight hits and a walk in 4.0 innings.
For the Friday matchup the Astros are sending out Hunter Brown as the starter. So far this year Brown is 2-5 with a 5.58 ERA in 13 games (12 starts). He’s got 67 Ks in 61.1 innings. Brown is 15-18 with a 4.85 ERA in 51 career games (43 starts).
Tigers vs Astros Injury Notes
Tigers RP Alex Faedo (hip) threw a bullpen session Thursday.
Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (finger) should be available to return to the lineup for Friday’s game.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Astros’ last six night games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Six of the Tigers’ last seven games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last five games.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Kyle Tucker has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Jose Abreu has hit at least one home run in four of his last five appearances with the Astros as underdogs against AL Central opponents.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Astros’ last eight games against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded a Double in each of the Astros’ last four night games against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros’ last six games against AL Central opponents.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Astros’ last eight games against AL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Alex Bregman has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 14 appearances.
Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts
- Tarik Skubal has recorded seven or more strikeouts in nine of his last 11 appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Kerry Carpenter has hit at least one home run in two of his last three appearances in night games against AL teams that held a losing record.
- Riley Greene has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Tigers’ last four games.
- Tarik Skubal has recorded a win in seven of his last eight appearances in night games.
- Gio Urshela has recorded at least one Single in each of his last 14 appearances against the Astros after playing the previous day.
- Gio Urshela has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 14 appearances against the Astros after playing the previous day.
- Gio Urshela has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 14 appearances against the Astros after playing the previous day.
- Riley Greene has scored at least one run in each of the Tigers’ last five games.
Houston Astros vs Detroit Tigers Prediction
I’ll stick with the Astros. Brown was a little shaky on June 2 versus the Twins, giving up three earned in 6.0 innings on five hits and a walk during a no-decision. In his last start however, Brown took the victory over the Angels with 6.0 clean frames, two hits and four walks. As for Skubal, he should do pretty well here also. Over his last three starts Skubal is 2-0 with 19.2 innings combined, two earned, 15 hits and five walks. If both starters are on point here we’ll have a lower-total game (at least initially).
Houston’s coming off a rocky series versus the Giants, giving up 10 runs in three games. If the pitching holds Friday though, I still like the Astros to post the W.