Brewers vs. Astros Preview and Pick

The Houston Astros look for the sweep Wednesday night as they host the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Houston beat Milwaukee Monday in the series opener 8-7, scoring five runs in the seventh to overcome a 6-3 deficit. The Astros then jumped out to a 9-2 Tuesday night, but had to hang on for a 13-12 win.

Thus far in the series, the two teams have combined for 40 runs, 52 hits and 12 home runs.

The Astros, who have won four games in a row, are 7-2 at home this season, 7-3 as favorites but just 5-9 vs. the run line.

The Brewers, who have lost three games in a row and seven of their last nine, are 2-6 on the road this season, 2-5 as underdogs but 8-6 vs. the run line.

Houston sits atop the National League Central Division, 1 ½ game ahead of the Cubs, while Milwaukee is in fifth place, three games back of the Astros.

Houston won the season series with Milwaukee 10-5 in 2005; the over/under went 5-10. And the Astros have won nine of the last 11 games vs. Milwaukee played at Minute Maid Park.

Milwaukee’s Wednesday starter Chris Capuano is 1-2 so far this season with a respectable 3.93 ERA. The Brewers went a solid 22-13 in Capuano’s starts last year, while the o/u went 18-16.

Capuano started two games vs. Houston in 2005, allowing six earned runs and 19 baserunners (hits + walks) in 12 2/3 innings pitched.

Houston starter Andy Pettitte has been banged around a bit this year, as his 1-2 record and 6.35 ERA will attest to. The Astros went 21-16 in games Pettitte started last year, while the o/u went 18-16.

Pettitte started four games vs. the Brewers in ’05, allowing just eight ER and 22 BR in 26 2/3 IP.

The Brewers have given up 30 runs in their last three games, while the Astros have scored 39 runs in their last four games.

Thanks in large part to the first two games of this series, games played at Minute Maid Park this year are averaging 12.3 runs per game. Minute Maid games averaged just 7.8 RPG last year, much of that having to do with Houston’s solid pitching. In 2004, the park averaged 9.3 RPG.

Wednesday’s projected home-plate umpire Tim Timmons has called three games behind the plate this season. All three have gone over the total, averaging 15.7 RPG. Timmons’ 34 games behind the plate last year averaged 10.2 runs, and the o/u went 17-15.

The over is a combined 17-10 in Brewers and Astros games this season.

Did you know that you can get up to a 40% sign up bonus at Vip Sports ?

The Ultimatecapper Pick: Balls have been flying out of Houston. We like the OVER here!