Houston (71-42) at San Francisco (57-56)
When: Monday, August 6th 2018
Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco
Time: 10:15 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Houston -145/8
The Houston Astros are coming off a successful World Series rematch, but may have lost yet another All-Star as they try and hold-off the surging Oakland Athletics in the American League West. Houston will limp into a two-game interleague series with the San Francisco Giants beginning Monday night with Charlie Morton opposing Dereck Rodriguez. Outfielder George Springer suffered a left thumb injury in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers and could join Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. on the ever-growing disabled list. Springer homered to leadoff Sunday’s game but left in the third inning after sliding head-first into second base, and the Dodgers went on to snap the Astros’ four-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory. Tony Kemp homered for Houston, which still took two of three from Los Angeles but saw its lead over second-place Oakland in the division shrink to four games. San Francisco stayed in the playoff race by recording its first winning road trip of the season (4-2) with Sunday’s 3-2 victory in Arizona. Evan Longoria broke an eighth-inning tie with a homer and is batting .357 with two doubles, a triple and two dingers in 10 games since returning from a broken hand on July 26th. Speaking of injuries – Giants catcher Buster Posey (concussion protocol) returned to the lineup Sunday after missing one game and went 1-for-3 while starting at first base.
Pitchers: Astros – Charlie Morton (12-2, 2.90 ERA) | Giants – Dereck Rodriguez (5-1, 2.59)
Morton will look to get the Astros back on the winning side after a solid performance last Tuesday, when he allowed two runs while striking out eight over six innings against Seattle. Morton is 26-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 46 starts since joining Houston at the beginning of last season and is 4-4 with a 2.59 ERA in 12 career starts against San Francisco.
Rodriguez continues to have a sensational rookie season, going 3-0 with a 1.49 ERA over his last seven games (six starts). He threw a career-high seven innings against San Diego on Tuesday, allowing one run and three hits while striking out seven. Rodriguez, who is the son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez, is facing Houston for the first time.
I really like this Rodriguez kid, who doesn’t seem to be fazed by the big stage. San Francisco gained some momentum on the road trip and will return home with a 32-22 record at AT&T Park. Houston may have a letdown after a tough World Series rematch with the Dodgers this weekend. I’ll take the home dog.
Pick: Giants +135
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Astros are 11-4 in their last 15 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 38-16 in their last 54 vs. National League West.
- Astros are 14-6 in their last 20 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 64-28 in their last 92 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 38-17 in their last 55 road games.
- Astros are 29-13 in their last 42 interleague road games.
- Astros are 35-16 in their last 51 during game 1 of a series.
- Astros are 54-26 in their last 80 interleague games.
- Astros are 35-17 in their last 52 games on grass.
- Astros are 35-17 in their last 52 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss.
- Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 7-0 in Morton’s last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Astros are 6-1 in Morton’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 17-3 in Morton’s last 20 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Astros are 5-1 in Morton’s last 6 Monday starts.
- Astros are 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Astros are 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 6-2 in Morton’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Astros are 1-4 in Morton’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Giants are 5-1 in their last 6 during game 1 of a series.
- Giants are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Giants are 4-1 in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Giants are 16-5 in their last 21 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Giants are 5-2 in their last 7 overall.
- Giants are 5-2 in their last 7 games on grass.
- Giants are 17-35 in their last 52 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. American League West.
- Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 interleague games.
- Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Giants are 2-6 in their last 8 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Giants are 1-5 in their last 6 home games.
- Giants are 1-5 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Giants are 7-1 in Rodriguez’s last 8 starts.
- Giants are 7-1 in Rodriguez’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Giants are 5-1 in Rodriguez’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Giants are 4-1 in Rodriguez’s last 5 home starts.
- Under is 10-1-1 in Astros last 12 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 8-1-1 in Astros last 10 interleague road games.
- Under is 7-1-1 in Astros last 9 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 7-1 in Astros last 8 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 12-3-2 in Astros last 17 road games.
- Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 8-2-1 in Astros last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 15-4-2 in Astros last 21 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Astros last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Astros last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 28-10-1 in Astros last 39 Monday games.
- Under is 18-7-2 in Astros last 27 interleague games.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 on grass.
- Under is 25-10-3 in Astros last 38 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 10-4-2 in Astros last 16 games following a loss.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 overall.
- Under is 25-10-2 in Astros last 37 vs. National League West.
- Over is 14-6-2 in Astros last 22 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 7-3-1 in Astros last 11 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 35-16-2 in Astros last 53 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 5-0 in Morton’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 interleague starts.
- Under is 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 starts vs. National League West.
- Under is 6-1 in Morton’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 road starts.
- Under is 5-2 in Morton’s last 7 Monday starts.
- Under is 5-2 in Morton’s last 7 starts overall.
- Under is 9-4 in Morton’s last 13 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 4-0 in Giants last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Giants last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 8-2-2 in Giants last 12 games following a win.
- Under is 4-1 in Giants last 5 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Giants last 5 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Giants last 5 interleague games.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Giants last 6 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Giants last 6 interleague home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Giants last 5 vs. American League West.
- Over is 6-2-2 in Giants last 10 Monday games.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Giants last 9 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Giants last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Giants last 8 on grass.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Giants last 8 overall.
- Under is 5-1 in Rodriguez’s last 6 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-1 in Rodriguez’s last 6 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Rodriguez’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in San Francisco.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Astros are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Astros are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in San Francisco.
