Cleveland (22-22) at Houston (29-18)
When: Sunday, May 20th 2018
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Houston -138/7.5
Two of the best American League teams heading into this season will wrap-up a three-game series on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball as the Cleveland Indians visit the Houston Astros after the clubs split the first two contests. Cleveland received a strong outing from ace Corey Kluber on Saturday, striking out 10 Astros in seven innings while third baseman Jose Ramirez had two hits and improved to 10-for-22 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs during his six-game hitting streak in the 5-4 win. Right fielder Michael Brantley is thriving in the second spot in the lineup for Cleveland and boasts a nine-game hitting streak. He blasted a solo homer in Saturday’s victory and is 14-for-39 during his streak with 19 RBIs in 16 games this month. The Astros saw their three-game winning streak come to an end despite homers by Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and Marwin Gonzalez. Outfielder Josh Reddick was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight day with a skin infection above his left knee but appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and hopes to return to the lineup Sunday. Both of these offenses are starting to click as Cleveland has homered in 10-straight games and Houston owns the majors best run differential at +96. Carlos Carrasco and Lance McCullers are each seeking their sixth win of the year.
Pitchers: Indians – Carlos Carrasco (5-2, 3.66 ERA) | Astros – Lance McCullers Jr. (5-2, 3.63)
Carrasco will go on an extra days rest after a series of high pitch count games. He allowed three runs over 6.2 innings in a 6-3 loss on May 14th at the Detroit Tigers. Carrasco has thrown at least 110 pitches in four of his last seven starts, including three in a row. Reddick is 6-for-9 with a home run against Carrasco, who owns a 3-1 record and 2.67 ERA in six career games (five starts) versus Houston, including 2-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA in two outings at Minute Maid Park.
McCullers took the tough-luck loss against the Los Angeles Angels last Monday, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. He has been keeping the ball in the park this season, allowing just three home runs (zero in last five outings), while striking out 58 in 52 innings. McCullers struggled in his only previous start against Cleveland, giving up five runs over five innings in a 7-6 loss last April.
Carrasco is an overpowering strikeout pitcher and the Astros are near the top in striking out. Combine that with the fact that Carrasco has been terrific at Minute Maid Park, makes for a play on the underdog here. The Indians are playing much better after a slow start and have won four of their last five at Houston.
Pick: Indians +122
BETTING TRENDS:
- Indians are 17-5 in their last 22 during game 3 of a series.
- Indians are 9-4 in their last 13 Sunday games.
- Indians are 52-25 in their last 77 games following a win.
- Indians are 39-19 in their last 58 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 3-7 in their last 10 road games.
- Indians are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 3-8 in their last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 3-8 in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 6-0 in Carrascos last 6 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Indians are 16-5 in Carrascos last 21 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Indians are 12-4 in Carrascos last 16 starts on grass.
- Indians are 8-3 in Carrascos last 11 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Indians are 16-6 in Carrascos last 22 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 5-2 in Carrascos last 7 starts vs. American League West.
- Indians are 35-16 in Carrascos last 51 road starts.
- Indians are 45-22 in Carrascos last 67 starts.
- Indians are 2-5 in Carrascos last 7 Sunday starts.
- Indians are 1-5 in Carrascos last 6 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 6-1 in their last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. American League Central.
- Astros are 7-2 in their last 9 during game 3 of a series.
- Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 Sunday games.
- Astros are 18-6 in their last 24 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 19-7 in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Astros are 8-3 in their last 11 overall.
- Astros are 8-3 in their last 11 games on grass.
- Astros are 38-15 in their last 53 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 39-16 in their last 55 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 32-14 in their last 46 home games.
- Astros are 56-27 in their last 83 games following a loss.
- Astros are 9-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Astros are 5-2 in McCullers Jr.s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 9-4 in McCullers Jr.s last 13 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Astros are 2-5 in McCullers Jr.s last 7 home starts.
- Over is 4-0 in Indians last 4 Sunday games.
- Over is 9-1 in Indians last 10 games following a win.
- Over is 8-1 in Indians last 9 vs. American League West.
- Over is 5-1 in Indians last 6 during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 9-3-1 in Indians last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 8-3-1 in Indians last 12 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Indians last 26 overall.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Indians last 26 on grass.
- Under is 7-3-1 in Indians last 11 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 9-4 in Indians last 13 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 9-4 in Indians last 13 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Carrascos last 4 starts on grass.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Carrascos last 4 starts overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Carrascos last 4 starts vs. American League West.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Carrascos last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Carrascos last 9 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Carrascos last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 11-4-1 in Carrascos last 16 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 22-10-1 in Carrascos last 33 road starts.
- Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Astros last 6 Sunday games.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Astros last 6 vs. American League Central.
- Under is 15-5-2 in Astros last 22 overall.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 15-5-2 in Astros last 22 on grass.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 games following a loss.
- Under is 19-7-1 in Astros last 27 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 34-16-3 in Astros last 53 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 35-17-3 in Astros last 55 home games.
- Over is 5-0-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 6 Sunday starts.
- Over is 4-0-2 in McCullers Jr.s last 6 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 4-0-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 8 home starts.
- Over is 4-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 5-2-1 in McCullers Jr.s last 8 starts vs. American League Central.
- Under is 17-7-2 in McCullers Jr.s last 26 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Indians are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Houston.
- Under is 13-4-4 in the last 21 meetings in Houston.
- Under is 26-9-4 in the last 39 meetings.
- Indians are 25-10 in the last 35 meetings.
