Houston (35-20) at NY Yankees (33-17)
When: Tuesday, May 29th 2018
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Houston -135/9
The Houston Astros just keep throwing out aces night-in and night-out and will do so once again on Tuesday as the defending World Series champions continue their three-game series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Justin Verlander allowed one run in 6.2 innings Monday to help Houston to a 5-1 series-opening victory. Despite the dominating effort, Verlander’s ERA actually rose from 1.08 to 1.11, but still putting him on pace for one of the greatest first halves in MLB history. The undefeated Charlie Morton (7-0) will get the ball Tuesday and has been tough on the Yankees lately, tossing five shutout innings in Game 7 of the 2017 American League Championship Series before striking out 10 in another win last month. Rookie J.D. Davis blasted a three-run homer and Jose Altuve added a solo shot for Houston’s offense on Monday. Altuve is 11-for-19 with two homers, seven RBIs and seven runs scored during his four-game hitting streak. Marwin Gonzalez had a pair of hits for the Astros to match his total of his previous six games, during which he struck out eight times. Greg Bird was moved-up to the cleanup position and belted his first homer of the season on Monday for New York’s lone run, although he is expected to drop once again in the lineup with Giancarlo Stanton scheduled to return after a day off. Stanton sat out the opener after striking out in all four at-bats in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels. New York has dropped four of six after winning 22 of its previous 26.
Pitchers: Astros – Charlie Morton (7-0, 2.04 ERA) | Yankees – CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.55)
Morton allowed just one run on two hits over 7.2 innings of a 2-1 victory over the Yankees back on April 30th, an outing that began a stretch in which he has posted a 4-0 mark in five starts after allowing eight runs on 18 hits with 40 strikeouts in 32.2 innings. Gleyber Torres had a double off Morton last month, but Morton walked away with the win to improve to 2-1 with a 0.93 WHIP in three career outings against the Yankees.
Lefty CC Sabathia will oppose Morton and is coming off a no-decision on Wednesday after being blasted for seven runs on six hits with three walks across 4.1 innings against Texas. Sabathia was taken deep twice as part of a five-run fourth inning, marking the fourth homer he’s allowed in three games after keeping the ball in the park in each of his four previous outings. Altuve is 2-for-6 against the hefty-lefty, however the former Cy Young winner has owned Brian McCann (2-for-10, five strikeouts).
This pitching matchup heavily favors the Astros. Sabathia has been scorched in his last three outings (8.78 ERA) and his team is 0-3 in those starts. Morton has been feeding off the rest of the Astros aces and will once again fluster the Baby Bombers.
Pick: Astros -116
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 during game 2 of a series.
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 14-5 in their last 19 road games.
- Astros are 8-3 in their last 11 overall.
- Astros are 8-3 in their last 11 games on grass.
- Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Astros are 5-1 in Morton’s last 6 starts vs. American League East.
- Astros are 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts.
- Astros are 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Astros are 6-2 in Morton’s last 8 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 7-3 in Morton’s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Astros are 11-5 in Morton’s last 16 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Yankees are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Yankees are 8-2 in their last 10 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Yankees are 7-2 in their last 9 during game 2 of a series.
- Yankees are 24-7 in their last 31 overall.
- Yankees are 40-12 in their last 52 home games.
- Yankees are 15-5 in their last 20 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Yankees are 8-3 in their last 11 Tuesday games.
- Yankees are 49-20 in their last 69 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Yankees are 36-15 in their last 51 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Yankees are 11-5 in their last 16 vs. American League West.
- Yankees are 53-24 in their last 77 games on grass.
- Yankees are 17-5 in Sabathia’s last 22 home starts.
- Yankees are 16-6 in Sabathia’s last 22 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Yankees are 12-5 in Sabathia’s last 17 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Yankees are 42-18 in Sabathia’s last 60 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Yankees are 2-5 in Sabathia’s last 7 Tuesday starts.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 road games.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 on grass.
- Under is 8-2 in Astros last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. American League East.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 9-3-1 in Astros last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 6-1 in Morton’s last 7 starts vs. American League East.
- Under is 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 9-4 in Morton’s last 13 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 13-3 in Yankees last 16 during game 2 of a series.
- Over is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 7-2 in Yankees last 9 Tuesday games.
- Over is 6-2 in Yankees last 8 overall.
- Over is 6-2 in Yankees last 8 on grass.
- Over is 19-7 in Yankees last 26 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 19-7-1 in Yankees last 27 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-2 in Yankees last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 7-3 in Yankees last 10 vs. American League West.
- Under is 10-2 in Sabathia’s last 12 Tuesday starts.
- Under is 7-2 in Sabathia’s last 9 starts vs. American League West.
- Under is 19-6-1 in Sabathia’s last 26 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 19-7-2 in Sabathia’s last 28 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 13-5-1 in Sabathia’s last 19 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-2 in Sabathia’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 12-5 in Sabathia’s last 17 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 23-10-1 in Sabathia’s last 34 starts overall.
- Under is 20-9-1 in Sabathia’s last 30 starts on grass.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in New York.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Astros are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in New York.
