Houston (48-27) at NY Yankees (46-27)
When: Thursday, June 20th, 2019
Where: Yankee Stadium,
Bronx, New York
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: YES,
SportsNet Southwest
Opening Odds: OFF
Both the Houston Astros and New York Yankees have had their share of key injuries this season, but both are slowly starting to get healthy, especially the Bronx Bombers. New York welcomed back Giancarlo Stanton earlier this week and could be getting back fellow slugger Aaron Judge by Friday to help battle the Astros in a four game series that begins on Thursday night with Framber Valdez opposing Chad Green. The Yankees didn’t need Stanton or Judge on Wednesday, as Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres helped their team blow out the Tampa Bay Rays and ace Blake Snell to the tune of a 12-1 triumph. Torres slugged a grand slam and Sanchez added a three-run shot to go with an RBI double for a New York team that is averaging 7.8 runs during their current five-game winning streak. The surging Yankees own a 3.5-game lead over the Rays and are just a game behind Houston in the overall American League standings. The Astros have lost a season-high four in a row, including three straight by one run in Cincinnati but still hold an eight-game lead over second place Texas in the AL West. Star second baseman Jose Altuve returned from a hamstring injury for the Astros but went 0-for-4 in a 3-2 loss to the Reds on Wednesday. Houston is still awaiting the return of OF George Springer (hamstring) and SS Carlos Correa (ribs). Houston swept a three-game series from New York at home earlier this season, outscoring them 18-12.
Pitchers: Astros – Framber Valdez (3-2, 2.77 ERA) | Yankees – Chad Green (1-2, 7.54)
Valdez made his first 14 appearances this season out of the bullpen, but was put into the rotation on June 8th and has responded with two quality start. The lefty has allowed three runs over 13 innings against Toronto and Baltimore with 15 strikeouts after shutting out the Seattle Mariners for four innings in his last relief outing. Valdez will get his first ever crack at starting against the Yankees.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Green is starting to get comfortable in the opener role with New York, as he’s produced two scoreless innings in each of his last two starts. He never caught on as a long reliever and had a 9.60 ERA in 17 games out of the bullpen. New York has won all five games he has started. Nestor Cortes Jr., who got the win with five innings of two-run ball behind Green his last time out, could potentially do the same thing in Thursday’s series opener with Houston.
The Yankees are very dangerous right now and keep getting healthier – and better with Encarnacion. Green stunk it up out of the bullpen but has found his groove in the opener role, which has resulted in five straight New York wins. Valdez has been good in his last three outings, but he’s faced three of the worst teams in the league. I’m taking the Yankees here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 80-53 +1908 units on the season after a 30-15 run!
Pick: Yankees -135
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Astros are 6-1 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 7-2 in their last 9 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 11-4 in their last 15 vs. American League East.
Astros are 19-7 in their last 26 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Astros are 46-17 in their last 63 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 19-8 in their last 27 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 games following a loss.
Astros are 77-36 in their last 113 games on grass.
Astros are 46-22 in their last 68 overall.
Astros are 76-37 in their last 113 road games.
Astros are 3-7 in their last 10 Thursday games.
Astros are 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Yankees are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
Yankees are 11-2 in their last 13 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 11-2 in their last 13 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Yankees are 43-14 in their last 57 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Yankees are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. American League West.
Yankees are 37-15 in their last 52 games on grass.
Yankees are 44-19 in their last 63 during game 1 of a series.
Yankees are 38-17 in their last 55 overall.
Yankees are 98-46 in their last 144 home games.
Yankees are 6-0 in Green’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Yankees are 7-0 in Green’s last 7 starts following an outing of less than 4 innings in his last appearance.
Yankees are 4-0 in Green’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Yankees are 6-0 in Green’s last 6 home starts.
Yankees are 6-0 in Green’s last 6 starts.
Yankees are 6-0 in Green’s last 6 starts on grass.
Yankees are 4-1 in Green’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 5-1 in Astros last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 games following a loss.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 overall.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 on grass.
Under is 6-2 in Astros last 8 Thursday games.
Under is 22-8-1 in Astros last 31 vs. American League East.
Under is 10-4 in Astros last 14 road games.
Over is 5-2 in Astros last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 15-6-1 in Astros last 22 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 33-16-2 in Astros last 51 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 2-0-2 in Valdez’s last 4 starts on grass.
Under is 2-0-2 in Valdez’s last 4 starts overall.
Under is 4-0-1 in Yankees last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-0-1 in Yankees last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 6-1-1 in Yankees last 8 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 4-1-1 in Yankees last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Yankees last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 8-3 in Yankees last 11 overall.
Over is 8-3 in Yankees last 11 on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Yankees last 7 vs. American League West.
Over is 11-5-2 in Yankees last 18 games following a win.
Under is 11-5-1 in Yankees last 17 home games.
Over is 13-6-1 in Yankees last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-1 in Green’s last 6 starts following an outing of less than 4 innings in his last appearance.
Over is 5-1 in Green’s last 6 starts on grass.
Over is 5-1 in Green’s last 6 starts overall.
Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings in New York.
Astros are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in New York.
