Houston (68-39) at Cleveland (62-43)
When: Tuesday, July 30th, 2019
Where: Progressive Field,
Cleveland, Ohio
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: SportsTime Ohio,
AT&T SportsNet Southwest
Opening Odds: Houston -130/8.5
The Cleveland Indians keep creeping closer and closer to the Minnesota Twins and the push will continue Tuesday night when they open a three-game series with the AL West-leading Houston Astros. Cleveland is coming off a successful 5-2 road trip despite dropping the finale 9-6 at Kansas City on Sunday that also saw a Trevor Bauer meltdown. Still, the Indians are one of the hottest teams in the league and are just two back of the Twins in the AL Central and easily own the top wild card spot with their 62-43 mark. Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez homered for the fourth straight game on Sunday and is 14-for-34 with five homers, 10 RBI and eight runs scored in his last eight games. The Astros are just as hot, winning nine of their last 11 after Sunday’s 6-2 win at St. Louis to begin their six-game road trip 2-1. Jose Altuve has been on fire, belting a three-run homer on Sunday and is 15-for-31 with four homers, eight RBI and six runs scored over his last eight games. The pitching matchup is a good one here with Justin Verlander opposing Shane Bieber. The teams split a four-game series back in April with the Under going 3-0-1.
Pitchers: Astros – Justin Verlander (13-4, 2.86 ERA) | Indians – Shane Bieber (10-3, 3.44)
Verlander has won each of his last three starts and allowed a total of four earned runs in that span after allowing an unearned run on two hits while striking out 11 in six innings of a 4-2 victory against second place Oakland. The Astros are 16-6 in his 22 starts including 9-3 away from home after limiting Texas to two runs over six innings on July 14th – his last road start. Verlander is 9-16 with a 5.56 ERA in 28 career starts at Progressive Field.
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Bieber is on a similar streak, winning four of his last five starts after his second complete game of the season last time out at Toronto. He limited the Blue Jays to one hit while striking out 10 in a 4-0 win on Wednesday, becoming the youngest Indians pitcher to throw a shutout while surrendering no more than one hit and striking out at least 10 since 1977. Bieber’s only start against Houston came earlier this season when he allowed three runs in six innings of a no-decision.
I’m giving the edge to the Indians in this terrific matchup. Both pitchers have been outstanding lately, but Cleveland has won seven of eight at home and they are 7-2 in Bieber’s last nine starts at Progressive Field. It will probably be a relatively low scoring game with the Indians pulling it out at the end.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Tuesday. He is 98-71 +1563 units on the season!
Pick: Indians +113
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BETTING TRENDS:
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 9-2 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 9-2 in their last 11 overall.
Astros are 9-2 in their last 11 games on grass.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
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 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 8-2 in their last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 39-14 in their last 53 vs. American League Central.
Astros are 22-8 in their last 30 Tuesday games.
Astros are 19-7 in their last 26 games following an off day.
Astros are 51-22 in their last 73 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 45-20 in their last 65 games following a win.
Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 102-48 in their last 150 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 38-18 in their last 56 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Astros are 4-0 in Verlander’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 7-1 in Verlander’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 6-1 in Verlander’s last 7 starts vs. American League Central.
Astros are 23-5 in Verlander’s last 28 road starts.
Astros are 13-3 in Verlander’s last 16 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 11-3 in Verlander’s last 14 starts with 5 days of rest.
Astros are 22-7 in Verlander’s last 29 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 6-2 in Verlander’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 11-4 in Verlander’s last 15 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Astros are 19-7 in Verlander’s last 26 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 25-10 in Verlander’s last 35 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 47-20 in Verlander’s last 67 starts on grass.
Astros are 48-21 in Verlander’s last 69 starts.
Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 1 of a series.
Indians are 7-1 in their last 8 home games.
Indians are 13-3 in their last 16 games following a loss.
Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Indians are 8-2 in their last 10 games following an off day.
Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Indians are 10-3 in their last 13 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 6-2 in their last 8 Tuesday games.
Indians are 21-7 in their last 28 games on grass.
Indians are 13-5 in their last 18 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 20-8 in their last 28 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Indians are 36-16 in their last 52 overall.
Indians are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. American League West.
Indians are 5-0 in Bieber’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Indians are 4-0 in Bieber’s last 4 starts on grass.
Indians are 5-0 in Bieber’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Indians are 6-0 in Bieber’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 4-0 in Bieber’s last 4 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Indians are 5-1 in Bieber’s last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Indians are 4-1 in Bieber’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Indians are 4-1 in Bieber’s last 5 Tuesday starts.
Indians are 7-2 in Bieber’s last 9 home starts.
Indians are 8-3 in Bieber’s last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Indians are 21-8 in Bieber’s last 29 starts.
Under is 6-0 in Astros last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 7-1 in Astros last 8 games following a win.
Under is 6-1 in Astros last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Astros last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Astros last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-1-1 in Astros last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 8-2 in Astros last 10 overall.
Under is 8-2 in Astros last 10 on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 Tuesday games.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. American League Central.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 8-2 in Astros last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 7-2 in Astros last 9 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 games following an off day.
Under is 4-0 in Verlander’s last 4 starts vs. American League Central.
Over is 4-0 in Verlander’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 Tuesday starts.
Under is 4-1-1 in Verlander’s last 6 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 10-3 in Verlander’s last 13 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 16-5-1 in Verlander’s last 22 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 3-1-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 11-4 in Verlander’s last 15 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 10-4 in Verlander’s last 14 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 13-6-1 in Verlander’s last 20 starts on grass.
Under is 13-6-1 in Verlander’s last 20 starts overall.
Under is 6-0 in Indians last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0-1 in Indians last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Indians last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 17-5 in Indians last 22 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Over is 3-1-1 in Indians last 5 games following an off day.
Under is 6-2 in Indians last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 13-5-1 in Indians last 19 vs. American League West.
Under is 20-8 in Indians last 28 games following a loss.
Over is 5-2-1 in Indians last 8 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 7-3-2 in Indians last 12 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Under is 7-3 in Indians last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 11-5 in Indians last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 35-16-1 in Indians last 52 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 8-0-3 in Bieber’s last 11 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 7-0-1 in Bieber’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 6-0 in Bieber’s last 6 starts vs. American League West.
Under is 9-2-2 in Bieber’s last 13 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1-1 in Bieber’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Bieber’s last 5 Tuesday starts.
Under is 3-1-1 in Bieber’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 15-5-1 in Bieber’s last 21 starts overall.
Under is 14-5-1 in Bieber’s last 20 starts on grass.
Under is 5-2 in Bieber’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-4-1 in Bieber’s last 14 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
Astros are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Under is 31-15-5 in the last 51 meetings.
