NY Yankees (5-4) at Houston (5-5)
When: Monday, April 8th, 2019
Where: Minute Maid Park,
Houston, Texas
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Houston -133/7.5
The New York Yankees lost their opening series to the lowly Baltimore Orioles, then had all sorts of problems scoring runs in another home series loss to the Detroit Tigers. Well, it seems that a nice road trip has awoken the bats in a big way, as the Bronx Bombers did just that to the Orioles in Baltimore this weekend in their three-game sweep. New York will now travel to Houston to take on an Astros team that beat the Yankees in the ALCS two seasons ago en route to a World Series Championship. The Yankees clubbed 14 home runs and platted 29 runs in the three games against the Orioles including seven in Sunday’s 15-3 triumph. Catcher Gary Sanchez belted three of those homers and Clint Frazier had two among his four hits after belting a three-run homer on Saturday. Those aren’t the only two hitting for New York, as Gleyber Torres is 8-for-15 with three dingers and five RBI during his four-game hitting streak. Houston’s offense has also picked it up after scoring at total of 15 runs in going 2-5 over their first seven games. The Astros opened their home schedule with a three-game sweep of the Oakland A’s and scored 18 runs in the process after Sunday’s 9-8 win. Jose Altuve walked with the bases loaded to plate the winning run in the ninth inning Sunday and has seven hits in his last four games.
Pitchers: Yankees – Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 1.46 ERA) | Astros – Justin Verlander (1-0, 4.09)
Masahiro Tanaka was one of those pitchers who suffered from the lack of Yankees’ offense in his last start, receiving a no-decision despite pitching very well. After beating the Orioles on Opening Day, Tanaka followed it up with 6.2 innings of one-run ball while striking out seven against Detroit on Tuesday. Tanaka faced Houston once last season, allowing three runs in six innings, but left without a decision. George Springer, who has scored five runs during his six-game hitting streak, is 4-for-12 with two homers and three RBI lifetime versus Tanaka.
Justin Verlander will also be making his third start and will try and rebound from a sub-par performance last time against the Texas Rangers. The former MVP and Cy Young winner allowed four runs on six hits in four innings of a no-decision on Tuesday after breezing past Tampa Bay on Opening Day. In 20 career starts versus the Yankees, Verlander is 7-7 with a 3.49 ERA and has held Aaron Judge and Sanchez to a combined 1-for-12 with five strikeouts.
Don’t look now, but the Yankees have come alive in a big way and I feel they carry that momentum to Houston. New York won three of the four meetings at Minute Maid Park last season, including a 4-0 win over Verlander. Tanaka has yet to walk a batter in two starts and you can’t score a lot of runs when you’re not getting on base. I’ll take the Yankees at this price almost any day of the week.
Check out Bobby Babowski’s MLB Free Picks for Monday. He’s off to a sizzling 22-9 start to the season after a perfect 4-0 Sunday!
Pick: Yankees +145
BETTING TRENDS:
Yankees are 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Yankees are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Yankees are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Yankees are 10-3 in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Yankees are 12-4 in their last 16 vs. American League West.
Yankees are 39-17 in their last 56 during game 1 of a series.
Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. a team with a losing record.
Yankees are 7-1 in Tanaka’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
Yankees are 7-1 in Tanaka’s last 8 Monday starts.
Yankees are 6-1 in Tanaka’s last 7 starts vs. American League West.
Yankees are 10-3 in Tanaka’s last 13 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Yankees are 16-5 in Tanaka’s last 21 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Yankees are 5-2 in Tanaka’s last 7 starts on grass.
Yankees are 36-16 in Tanaka’s last 52 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Yankees are 11-5 in Tanaka’s last 16 road starts.
Yankees are 35-17 in Tanaka’s last 52 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Yankees are 1-4 in Tanaka’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Astros are 6-1 in their last 7 Monday games.
Astros are 15-6 in their last 21 home games.
Astros are 51-21 in their last 72 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Astros are 44-20 in their last 64 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 35-17 in their last 52 games on grass.
Astros are 4-9 in their last 13 overall.
Astros are 2-6 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 1-7 in their last 8 vs. American League East.
Astros are 5-0 in Verlander’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Astros are 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Astros are 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 home starts.
Astros are 8-2 in Verlander’s last 10 starts.
Astros are 7-2 in Verlander’s last 9 starts on grass.
Astros are 12-5 in Verlander’s last 17 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 8-0 in Yankees last 8 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 10-1 in Yankees last 11 road games.
Over is 7-1 in Yankees last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 5-1 in Yankees last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 12-4 in Yankees last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 14-6 in Yankees last 20 overall.
Over is 15-7 in Yankees last 22 on grass.
Under is 5-1-1 in Tanaka’s last 7 road starts.
Under is 4-1 in Tanaka’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 8-3 in Tanaka’s last 11 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 8-3-1 in Tanaka’s last 12 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Under is 7-3 in Tanaka’s last 10 starts on grass.
Under is 4-0 in Astros last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 vs. American League East.
Under is 6-0 in Astros last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 9-1 in Astros last 10 overall.
Over is 9-1 in Astros last 10 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 on grass.
Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 36-14-1 in Astros last 51 Monday games.
Under is 38-17-2 in Astros last 57 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 5-1 in Verlander’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts vs. American League East.
Over is 5-2 in Verlander’s last 7 starts on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Verlander’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Yankees are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Houston.
Under is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings.
Yankees are 3-7 in the last 10 meetings in Houston.
Yankees are 2-5 in Tanaka’s last 7 starts vs. Astros.
