Skubal, Tigers Look To Add to Astros’ Home Woes
The Tigers vs Astros Series Odds Have Friday's Opener Approaching Pick'em status
Carpenter, Tucker Are Among Hitters Set to Miss Tigers-Astros Series
Both the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros came into the 2024 season with lofty expectations but both teams come into the weekend series with losing records. When looking at the Tigers vs Astros series odds, the series opener could go off as a Pick’em.
Houston won two of the three games when these MLB teams met in May. Since the start of the 2022 season, the Astros are 12-4 against the Tigers. However, four of those wins were by one run. Detroit did win two of three games the last time the teams met in Houston.
- The MLB predictions have Houston priced at -107 to win Friday’s series opener with +180 odds to cover at -1.5 on the run line. The Tigers are at -103 to win the opener.
- The Astros have seen their odds of winning the World Series move from +750 to +2000 since the season began. Detroit is priced at +10000 in the championship odds.
Tigers vs Astros 
Day/Time:
Records: Tigers 33-35/Astros 31-38
Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Streaming: Bally Sports Detroit, Space City Home Network
Tigers vs Astros Probable Starting Pitchers
- Friday: Tarik Skubal (Tigers); Hunter Brown (Astros)
- Saturday: Jack Flaherty (Tigers); Justin Verlander (Astros)
- Sunday: Kenta Maeda (Tigers); Spencer Arrighetti (Astros)
Not Bad, For Starters
The series could begin with a bit of a pitcher’s duel.
Tarik Skubal is now the MLB player with the best American League Cy Young Award odds.
He has allowed two runs or less in 10 of his last 11 starts. With an 8-1 record, 1.92 ERA, and 96 strikeouts, he already has more wins than he had in an injury-plagued 2023 season and could pass his strikeout total from 2023 in this game. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Tigers vs Astros series odds.
It was a tough start to the season for Brown, a Detroit native. He went into May with an ERA of 9.78 to go with a 0-4 record. Since then, Brown has allowed two runs or less in five of his last seven starts to drop his ERA to 5.58.
He could be a tempting player prop option with at least seven strikeouts in each of his last three games.
The total has gone over in six of Detroit’s last seven games.
Astros Continue to Stumble
The last time the Astros played the Tigers, a win in the series finale began a five-game winning streak. That led many to believe that the perennial World Series contenders were ready to turn things around.
Since that streak, Houston is just 11-13 with the Houston Astros standings having them sitting in third place in the American League West Division and 5.5 games out of the final MLB playoff spot in the American League.
Meanwhile, Losing pitchers Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy for the season.
Alex Bregman and Jose Abreu are among the hitters struggling to deliver as frequently as in past MLB seasons.
When considering the Tigers vs Astros series odds, bear in mind that Houston has seen 14 of its last 18 games go under the total.
Who’s Hot
- Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros DH: Alvarez is batting .395 with 12 runs, five home runs, and 13 RBIs over his last 11 games.
- Hunter Brown, Houston Astros P: Brown has allowed 13 hits and six runs with 26 strikeouts in 24 innings in his last four starts.
- Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers OF: Greene is 6-for-18 with four extra-base hits, and six RBIs in his last five games.
- Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers P: Skubal is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.92 and 24 strikeouts in 19.2 innings in his last three starts.
Who’s Not
- Beau Brieske, Detroit Tigers P: Brieske has surrendered five hits and four runs in three innings in his last two appearances.
- Andy Ibanez, Detroit Tigers 2B: Ibanez is 4-for-18 with four strikeouts in his last seven MLB games.
- Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros SS: Pena is 4-for-25 with no extra-base hits and five strikeouts in his last six games.
- Justin Verlander, Houston Astros P: Verlander has given up 14 hits, three home runs, and eight runs in 10 innings in his last two starts.
Tigers vs Astros Injury Update
Shortstop Javier Baez and outfielder Kerry Carpenter join pitcher Alex Faedo on the MLB injured list for the Tigers.
Catcher Yannier Diaz is questionable while outfielder Kyle Tucker is out for the Astros.
Tigers vs Astros Betting Preview
It will be interesting to see if Justin Verlander can shake off some recent tough outings against his former team.
Detroit has a better record on the road than at home. Will that trend continue in this series?
Being a favorite isn’t all that it is cracked up to be as Houston is 24-29 as a favorite this season with Detroit 15-16 when favored.
When it comes to the MLB picks and parlays, it is worth remembering that Houston’s Jeremy Pena hit .417 and teammate Yordan Alvarez batted .385 in the series last month against Detroit.
Houston is just 15-20 against the run line at home with only 14 of those games going over the total.
- Detroit has seen 20 of 33 road games go over the total. The total is set at 7.5 for Friday’s opener.
Twelve of Detroit’s last 15 road games went over the total with the total set at 7.5 for the series opener.
The total has gone under in 11 of Houston’s last 12 games against American League teams.
For MLB betting news, MLB odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
