Houston (32-18) at Cleveland (24-23)
When: Thursday, May 24th 2018
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Time: 6:10 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Houston -120/8
For the second time in six days, Charlie Morton will oppose Mike Clevinger, as the Houston Astros begin a seven-game road trip with the first of four at the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night. The two playoff contenders met last weekend in Houston with the Astros taking two of three including last Friday’s matchup 4-1. Houston, which is 16-7 on the road this season, beat San Francisco at home 4-1 on Wednesday for its third-straight victory overall. George Springer snapped a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with his team-leading 10th home run, a two-run shot that sparked his third two-hit outing in five games. Carlos Correa added two hits and an RBI for the Astros, but Jose Altuve went 0-for-3 to end his hitting streak at seven games. Cleveland ended a 4-4 road trip with a two-game interleague sweep in Chicago during which it outscored the Cubs 11-1. Michael Brantley delivered an RBI single in the third inning as he went 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games while Adam Plutko did not allow a hit over the first six innings and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter (1-0) after being recalled from the minors prior to Wednesday’s victory. Each club holds a two-game lead in their respective divisions despite Houston having eight more wins that Cleveland. Houston placed Josh Reddick (leg infection) on the 10-day DL and recalled fellow OF Jake Marisnick from Triple-A Fresno on Wednesday.
Pitchers: Astros – Charlie Morton (6-0, 1.94 ERA) | Indians – Mike Clevinger (3-1, 2.87)
Morton looks for his second victory over Cleveland in less than a week after allowing one run and four hits over seven innings of a home victory over the Indians last Friday. Morton boasts 70 strikeouts on the season while issuing only 18 walks in 55.2 innings and has allowed more than two runs only twice in his nine starts. His win last week improved him to 1-2 with a 3.93 ERA in three career starts against Cleveland.
Clevinger suffered his first loss of the season opposite Morton on Friday as he allowed three runs on eight hits and four walks in 6.1 innings. Clevinger has walked four batters in two of his last three starts – both on the road – after handing out a total of 10 over his first six outings this year. He has made three career starts against the Astros, going 1-2 with a 2.40 ERA and 17 strikeouts across 15 innings.
The Astros are playing good ball once again and Morton has been terrific, especially at home. He got the better of Clevinger last week and I say he does it again tonight. I’ll lay the juice on the road.
Pick: Astros -125
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. American League Central.
- Astros are 8-2 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 Thursday games.
- Astros are 7-2 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Astros are 40-15 in their last 55 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
- Astros are 57-28 in their last 85 overall.
- Astros are 57-28 in their last 85 games on grass.
- Astros are 5-0 in Morton’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Astros are 7-1 in Morton’s last 8 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Astros are 11-5 in Morton’s last 16 starts.
- Astros are 11-5 in Morton’s last 16 starts on grass.
- Indians are 41-14 in their last 55 Thursday games.
- Indians are 10-4 in their last 14 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Indians are 46-19 in their last 65 home games.
- Indians are 28-12 in their last 40 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Indians are 1-6 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
- Indians are 5-1 in Clevinger’s last 6 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Indians are 5-1 in Clevinger’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Indians are 8-3 in Clevinger’s last 11 home starts.
- Indians are 1-4 in Clevinger’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Indians are 1-4 in Clevinger’s last 5 starts.
- Indians are 1-4 in Clevinger’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Indians are 0-4 in Clevinger’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Astros last 5 road games.
- Under is 5-0-2 in Astros last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 Thursday games.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Astros last 26 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 34-15-3 in Astros last 52 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 9-4-1 in Astros last 14 vs. American League Central.
- Under is 33-16-3 in Astros last 52 overall.
- Under is 33-16-3 in Astros last 52 on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 starts overall.
- Under is 6-1 in Morton’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 9-3 in Morton’s last 12 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 4-0 in Indians last 4 Thursday games.
- Over is 8-1 in Indians last 9 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 14-2 in Indians last 16 home games.
- Under is 6-1-1 in Indians last 8 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Over is 4-1 in Indians last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 8-2 in Indians last 10 vs. American League West.
- Over is 8-2 in Indians last 10 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Indians last 26 overall.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Indians last 26 on grass.
- Over is 9-4-1 in Indians last 14 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Clevinger’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Clevinger’s last 8 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Clevinger’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 12-5-1 in Clevinger’s last 18 home starts.
- Under is 24-11-1 in Clevinger’s last 36 starts overall.
- Under is 23-11-1 in Clevinger’s last 35 starts on grass.
- Under is 27-9-4 in the last 40 meetings.
- Under is 13-5 in the last 18 meetings in Cleveland.
- Astros are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings.
- Astros are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
