It’s been a hot start for the New York Yankees as they head into the final game of a four-game series on the road against the Houston Astros.
The Yankees, who are a slight underdog by the MLB odds, have a chance to sweep Houston after winning the first three games of the series. The Bronx Bombers have lived up to their name to start the MLB season, but will it continue into game four?
Find out where my best bets lie in my MLB picks for the Yankees vs. Astros on Sunday, March 31.
Yankees vs Astros odds
Yankees vs Astros predictions
After earning his third All-Star nod last season as a member of the San Diego Padres, Juan Soto was traded to the Big Apple and agreed to a one-year $31 million deal. If New York Yankees fans were worried the 25-year-old would take some time to acclimate to the Pinstripes, that concern has already dissipated.
Just three games into his career with the Evil Empire, Soto has looked like the perfect complement to the face of the franchise, Aaron Judge. The right fielder has already racked up six hits in three outings while adding a home run, a double, and three walks.
The former Washington National doesn’t look like he’ll be slowing down in game four either with a matchup against Astros pitcher J.P. France. France predominantly uses his four-seam fastball (43.1% of the time) and that’s a pitch Soto has a history of hammering.
Last season, the All-Star slugged .631 against four-seamers and in the two seasons before that, he was up to .662 and .722 SLG against it. Over the last three seasons, Soto has added a run value of 60 against four-seamers, per Baseball Savant.
It’s been his favorite pitch to hit for much of his career and last season 27 of his home runs and 14 of his doubles came against fastballs. The only other two pitches France goes to more than 15% of the time are his cutter (18.9%) and changeup (15.2%).
With the Padres last season, Soto had a .638 SLG against cutters with a .447 wOBA — he’s historically hit cutters at a high level. And while he’s not been quite as dominant against changeups, he still had a .424 SLG, .393 wOBA, and added a run value of eight against them.
My best bet: Juan Soto Over 1.5 total bases (+140 at bet365)
Yankees vs Astros same-game parlay
Juan Soto Over 1.5 total bases
Oswaldo Cabrera Over 0.5 hits
Yainer Diaz Over 0.5 hits
It hasn’t just been Soto lighting pitchers up early this season, Oswaldo Cabrera has been right there with him. Cabrera leads the Yankees with seven hits in 13 at bats (.538) and has recorded at least one hit in each game of the series against Houston.
To keep up with the Pinstripes, Houston will need Yainer Diaz to continue to pick up the slack. Diaz leads Houston with a .400 batting average and four hits in three games.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Best MLB bonuses for Yankees vs Astros
All Users
Instant payout for MLB moneylines
If your team goes up by 5+! Claim Now
All Users
50% boost on one MLB bet
e.g. +140 BOOSTS to +210! Claim Now
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2024.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Yankees vs Astros moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- Despite the Yankees winning the first three games of the series, the Astros opened as a -125 to -135 favorite, and remain there.
- Houston was one of the best teams in the MLB last season, going 96-77, while New York was just 82-80.
- Given the talent both these teams have in their batting lineup, the Over/Under opened at 9.5 and remains there.
- Last season, Houston was 91-77-5 betting the Over, but the Yankees were just 71-84-7.
Trend to know
The Astros have hit the game total Over in 33 of their last 54 games (+13.20 Units / 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Astros
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Yankees vs Astros game info
| Location: | Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX |
| Date: | Sunday, March 31, 2024 |
| First pitch: | 2:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: |
YES, Space City Network |
Starting pitchers
Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 0.00 ERA): After a solid first few starts in the majors in 2022, last season was a bumpy ride for the now 28-year-old Schmidt. While he had some good moments in the second half of the season, his early seasons struggles and issues coming out of the bullpen in the playoffs ultimately hurt his perception. Schmidt posted a 4.64 ERA and gave up 169 hits in 159 innings last season.
J.P France (0-0, 0.00 ERA): The 28-year-old France showed some solid stuff in his first season in the majors last year. He finished with a 3.83 ERA across 23 starts and had 101 strikeouts to 47 walks in over 136 innings pitched.
Latest injuries
Weather
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
