Cleveland (0-1) at Houston (1-0)
When: Saturday, October 6th 2018
Where: Minute Maid Park,
Houston, Texas
Time: 4:37 ET | TV: TBS
Opening Odds: Houston -145/7
The Houston Astros got off to a terrific start in their quest for back-to-back World Series championships with a powerful 7-2 Game 1 ALDS victory over the Cleveland Indians, and will look to go up 2-0 on Saturday afternoon. Houston mashed 27 home runs en route to last year’s title, and started the 2018 postseason with four more, while limiting the Indians to just three hits. George Springer became the third player in major league history to homer in five consecutive postseason games, joining former Astros star Carlos Beltran (five, 2004) and Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets (six, 2015). Houston also got blasts from Martin Maldonado, Alex Bregman, and Jose Altuve, while the bullpen followed Justin Verlander’s strong outing with 3.2 innings of one-hit scoreless relief. Carlos Carrasco, who went 1-1 with 5.40 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 13.1 innings against Houston this year, will try to cool off the Astros’ bats while facing fellow right-hander Gerrit Cole, who has not lost since August 10th. The Indians got two of their three hits in the sixth inning Friday as Yan Gomes, along with Francisco Lindor, delivered singles and Jose Ramirez recorded an RBI groundout to close the gap to 4-2. All-Star LF Michael Brantley, who ended the regular season with a nine-game hitting streak, singled in the ninth inning of Game 1. The Indians have lost four straight playoff games – all on the road – since taking the first two contests of the ALDS against the New York Yankees in 2017.
Pitchers: Indians – Carlos Carrasco (17-10, 3.38 ERA) | Astros – Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.81)
Carrasco ended the season with a strong outing against Kansas City, but lost his previous three decisions prior to limiting the Royals to one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. This will be Carrasco’s second postseason start after a strong outing against the Yankees last October when he limited them to three hits over 5.2 scoreless innings. He is 8-6 with a 2.96 ERA and a .222 batting average against on the road this year.
Cole finished real strong, going 5-0 in his last eight starts while striking out 69 over 46.2 innings during that stretch. Cole limited opponents to just a .198 batting average this season and set a career-high with 276 strikeouts. He was 8-2 at home, but allowed three runs over seven innings in a no-decision at Cleveland in late May. Cole is 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in three postseason starts in 2015 and 2013 while he was with Pittsburgh.
This game I feel will go the same as the first. Cole will dominate the Indians lineup while the Astros continue to hit home runs en route to a 2-0 series lead.
Pick: Astros -142
BETTING TRENDS:
- Indians are 5-1 in their last 6 during game 2 of a series.
- Indians are 20-9 in their last 29 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 35-17 in their last 52 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 5-12 in their last 17 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Indians are 2-6 in their last 8 playoff games.
- Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Indians are 6-2 in Carrasco’s last 8 starts vs. American League West.
- Indians are 6-2 in Carrasco’s last 8 Saturday starts.
- Indians are 20-7 in Carrasco’s last 27 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Indians are 37-16 in Carrasco’s last 53 starts on grass.
- Indians are 39-19 in Carrasco’s last 58 starts.
- Indians are 1-4 in Carrasco’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 7-0 in their last 7 Saturday games.
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 Divisional Playoff home games.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
- Astros are 21-6 in their last 27 overall.
- Astros are 16-5 in their last 21 playoff home games.
- Astros are 43-16 in their last 59 during game 2 of a series.
- Astros are 47-19 in their last 66 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 36-16 in their last 52 vs. American League Central.
- Astros are 84-40 in their last 124 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 63-30 in their last 93 games on grass.
- Astros are 4-0 in Cole’s last 4 home starts.
- Astros are 7-2 in Cole’s last 9 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Astros are 24-7 in Cole’s last 31 starts on grass.
- Astros are 24-8 in Cole’s last 32 starts.
- Astros are 14-5 in Cole’s last 19 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 2-0-2 in Indians last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 4-0-1 in Indians last 5 Saturday games.
- Under is 7-2 in Indians last 9 playoff road games.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Indians last 5 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 13-5-1 in Indians last 19 playoff games.
- Over is 17-8-1 in Indians last 26 vs. American League West.
- Over is 7-0 in Carrasco’s last 7 Saturday starts.
- Under is 4-0 in Carrasco’s last 4 starts overall.
- Over is 7-1 in Carrasco’s last 8 starts vs. American League West.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Carrasco’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Carrasco’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-0-1 in Astros last 8 overall.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Astros last 5 on grass.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 home games.
- Under is 7-0 in Astros last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 7-1 in Astros last 8 Divisional Playoff home games.
- Over is 5-1 in Astros last 6 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 13-3 in Astros last 16 Divisional Playoff games.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Astros last 10 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 playoff games.
- Over is 4-0 in Cole’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-0 in Cole’s last 4 starts vs. American League Central.
- Over is 6-2 in Cole’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Over is 6-2 in Cole’s last 8 starts overall.
- Over is 9-3 in Cole’s last 12 home starts.
- Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Under is 14-4-4 in the last 22 meetings in Houston.
- Indians are 27-13 in the last 40 meetings.
