Visiting Astros Favored In Series Opener in Motown
Despite Record, the Astros vs Tigers Preview Has Houston Favored
Saturday’s Matchup between Javier and Skubal Could be Something to Behold
The good news is that the Houston Astros avoided a sweep in the series with the New York Yankees on Thursday. The bad news is that Houston is ahead of only the Chicago White Sox in the American League standings heading into a weekend series with the Detroit Tigers. The Astros vs Tigers preview has visiting Houston favored in the series opener.
Houston is 10-3 outright in the last 13 meetings with the Tigers and has won 13 of the last 16 as the road favorite against Detroit. The last time they met, Houston won the last two games by a combined score of 26-6.
The MLB betting lines have the Astros priced at -155 to win as the series gets underway on Friday. There are +114 odds for the Astros to cover at -1.5 on the run line. Detroit has +130 odds to win the series opener.
Houston is tied for second at +450 in the odds of winning the American League pennant while Detroit is 10th at +2500 in the championship odds.
Astros vs Tigers 
Records: Houston Astros (13-24) at Detroit Tigers (19-18)
Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Day/Time:
Streaming: Space City Home Network, Bally Sports Detroit
Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
- Friday: Framber Valdez (Astros) vs Casey Mize (Tigers)
- Saturday: Cristian Javier (Astros) vs Tarik Skubal (Tigers)
- Sunday: Justin Verlander (Astros) vs Jack Flaherty (Tigers)
Enticing Pitching Matchups
It might be hard to find a better weekend pitching matchup than the Saturday showdown between Houston’s Cristian Javier and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.
Javier is 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in four starts this season as he is slated to return to the mound for the first time since April 14 due to a neck injury.
Skubal is second among qualifier American League pitchers with a 1.90 ERA and he is tied for ninth in the majors with 53 strikeouts. He joins Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies as the only qualified pitcher in the majors with an ERA under 2.00 and at least 10 strikeouts per nine innings.
Detroit’s Jack Flaherty leads the American League in strikeouts. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Astros vs Tigers preview.
Thirteen of Houston’s last 20 games went under the total.
Big Hitters Coming Up Empty
This series features multiple hitters struggling to live up to the expectations.
Houston’s Alex Bregman is batting just .198 with six extra-base hits in 35 games and Victor Caratini is batting .239.
Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson, a former No. 1 overall pick, has no home runs in 136 at-bats this season while Javier Baez is batting just .176.
Keep that in mind when it comes to the Astros vs Tigers Preview.
Detroit has seen four of its last five games land over the total.
Who’s Hot
- Andy Ibanez, Detroit Tigers 2B: Ibanez is 5-for-9 with a double, two home runs, four RBIs, and five runs scored in his last two games.
- Tyler Holton, Detroit Tigers P: Holton has allowed two hits and no runs in 4.2 innings in his last two appearances as he has struck out five of the last 14 batters he has faced.
- Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros SS: Pena is hitting .407 with seven runs, two extra-base hits, and four RBIs over his last nine games.
- Ryan Pressly, Houston Astros P: Pressly has allowed five hits and one run with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings over his last six games.
Who’s Not
- Javier Baez, Detroit Tigers SS: Baez is 2-for-22 with five strikeouts over his last six games.
- Alex Bregman, Houston Astros 3B: Bregman is 4-for-29 with no extra-base hits in his last nine games.
- Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers P: Mize has allowed 15 hits and eight runs in 10.1 innings over his last two starts.
- Justin Verlander, Houston Astros P: Verlander allowed three home runs, eight hits, and seven runs in five innings in his last start.
Astros vs Tigers Injury Update
Outfielder Chas McCormick joins pitchers Luis Garcia, Kendall Graveman, Lance McCullers, Penn Murfee, Oliver Ortega, Bennett Sousa, and Jose Urquidy on the MLB injured list.
Outfielder Mark Canha is questionable for the Tigers while Gio Urshela is out for Detroit.
Astros vs Tigers Betting Preview
We’re not sure how many people who bet online had Detroit with a better mark than the perennial title contenders. This is surprising given their MLB records now.
Despite being 11 games under .500 and sitting at -31 in run differential, the Astros are still getting plenty of love as the series opener will be the 13th time this season that the MLB expert picks have the Astros as the road favorite.
When making the best MLB bets, it is hard to have much confidence with the former No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize as Mize gets the start for the Tigers in the series opener.
Ten of Houston’s 13 wins this season came when listed as the favorite. Detroit is just 9-10 as the underdog.
Detroit has covered in only five of 17 home games with seven of those contests going over the total.
The teams are a combined 21-33 against right-handed starting pitchers.
There are some questions with the starting pitchers for the Astros with Javier missing nearly a month and Verlander coming off his worst outing of the season, but it is still hard to pick against the Astros in this series.
Astros vs Tigers Odds
For MLB odds analysis, news, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
