Houston (66-38) at St Louis (54-47)
When: Friday, July 26th, 2019
Where: Busch Stadium,
St Louis, Missouri
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: FS Midwest,
AT&T SportsNet Southwest
Opening Odds: St Louis -112/9
Former National League Central rivals will look to keep their current momentum going this weekend when the Houston Astros visit the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Friday night at Busch Stadium. The surging Cardinals have not only passed the second place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, but are now tied with the Chicago Cubs for the top spot after sweeping a four-game series in Pittsburgh this week. The Cardinals, who are 11-3 since the All-Star Break, received most of their offense from Paul Goldschmidt this week after he homered in all four games and drove in nine runs. St. Louis outscored the Pirates 30-19 in the sweep and improved to 27-27 away from home. They will now open a six-game homestand against Houston and three against the Cubs next week. The Astros are just as hot, reeling off seven wins in their last eight games to build a comfortable 7.5 game lead over Oakland in the AL West entering Thursday’s action. Shortstop Carlos Correa is expected to return to Houston’s lineup for the first time in two months on Friday after missing 49 games with a fractured rib. Correa went 7-for-21 in a six-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock. This will be the first time these teams have met since 2016 when the road team took all four games that season.
Pitchers: Astros – Jose Urquidy (1-0, 5.54 ERA) | Cardinals – Jack Flaherty (4-6, 4.24)
Jose Urquidy will make his fourth career start on Friday and the Astros have won his first three starts with terrific run support. Houston has scored 26 runs in his three outings after a 6-1 over Texas in which Urquidy struck out nine and allowed one run and two hits over seven innings. In his first two starts, Urquidy allowed seven runs and 14 hits over six innings total. He has a 17:1 strikeout/walk ratio through his first 13 innings.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
While Urquidy has benefited from great run support, the opposite can be said for Jack Flaherty, who’s team has give him four total runs over his last three starts. Flaherty has done his best to keep the Cardinals in games by allowing just two runs total over that span including 4.1 scoreless innings at Cincinnati last time out. Flaherty, who will be seeing Houston for the first time, has a 3.22 ERA in 10 home starts.
This should be a great interleague series this weekend as both teams are red-hot, but I’m taking the Cardinals in the opener. Flaherty has the edge over Urquidy and St. Louis’ offense is clicking.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He is 98-67 +1993 units on the season after an 12-6 run!
Pick: Cardinals +103
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Astros are 7-1 in their last 8 overall.
Astros are 7-1 in their last 8 games on grass.
Astros are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 6-1 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 7-2 in their last 9 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 23-8 in their last 31 games following an off day.
Astros are 51-21 in their last 72 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 42-18 in their last 60 Friday games.
Astros are 33-16 in their last 49 interleague road games.
Astros are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. National League Central.
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 games on grass.
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Cardinals are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Cardinals are 16-5 in their last 21 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Cardinals are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Cardinals are 6-2 in their last 8 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Cardinals are 2-5 in their last 7 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 4-10 in their last 14 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 2-5 in Flaherty’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Cardinals are 2-5 in Flaherty’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
Cardinals are 1-5 in Flaherty’s last 6 home starts.
Cardinals are 1-5 in Flaherty’s last 6 starts.
Cardinals are 1-5 in Flaherty’s last 6 starts on grass.
Cardinals are 0-4 in Flaherty’s last 4 interleague starts.
Under is 6-1 in Astros last 7 on grass.
Under is 6-1 in Astros last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-1 in Astros last 7 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 9-2-2 in Astros last 13 Friday games.
Under is 13-3 in Astros last 16 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 16-4-1 in Astros last 21 interleague road games.
Over is 7-2 in Astros last 9 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 17-5-2 in Astros last 24 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-2 in Astros last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-2 in Astros last 7 road games.
Over is 5-2 in Astros last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 18-8-1 in Astros last 27 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 6-0 in Cardinals last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 3-0-1 in Cardinals last 4 vs. American League West.
Over is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 21-7-1 in Cardinals last 29 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 9-3 in Cardinals last 12 Friday games.
Under is 12-4-1 in Cardinals last 17 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 19-7-2 in Cardinals last 28 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 23-9-2 in Cardinals last 34 interleague games.
Over is 10-4 in Cardinals last 14 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 20-8 in Cardinals last 28 home games.
Under is 12-5-1 in Cardinals last 18 interleague home games.
Under is 9-4 in Cardinals last 13 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Under is 11-5-1 in Cardinals last 17 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 24-11-2 in Cardinals last 37 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-0-1 in Flaherty’s last 4 starts on grass.
Over is 3-0-1 in Flaherty’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 3-0-1 in Flaherty’s last 4 starts overall.
Under is 6-1 in Flaherty’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
Over is 12-3 in Flaherty’s last 15 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 6-2 in Flaherty’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-2 in Flaherty’s last 7 home starts.
Under is 27-13-1 in the last 41 meetings in St. Louis.
Astros are 5-16 in the last 21 meetings.
Astros are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings in St. Louis.
