The Houston Astros needed two converted touchdowns to beat the Baltimore Orioles in the opener of their 3-game set Friday night. Saturday’s matinee matchup could be an entirely different outlook, with two premier AL pitchers on the bump.
The books are looking at a B-More bounceback, pegging the visitors as -148 moneyline favorites in the MLB odds.
Check out my free Orioles vs. Astros prediction below, and find out why my MLB picks like the O’s dominant offense paired with ace Corbin Burnes.
Orioles vs Astros prediction
My best bet
Orioles -1.5 (+114 at DraftKings)
My analysis
When the Baltimore Orioles' bats hold up their end of the bargain, Corbin Burnes is nearly unbeatable. Burnes has picked up wins in five of his last six starts, improving to 8-2 on the year with a 2.14 ERA, which ranks fourth.
The Orioles have scored at least five runs in each outing, but the righty hasn’t needed all of them, as he’s allowed a total of six earned runs over that stretch, including three starts posting zero.
The only rough patch Burnes has endured was just before this stint, when he was tagged with two losses while Baltimore lost all four of his starts.
While he gave up only seven earned runs over those starts, Baltimore mustered a total of four runs, getting shut out twice. It was about the only rough patch for a team that leads the bigs in runs scored while clubbing an MLB-best 123 homers.
We’ll see how they fare against Houston starter Ronel Blanco, who’s sporting a 7-2 record with a 2.43 ERA, which ranks seventh in baseball.
The Houston Astros have done a whole lot of winning with Blanco on the bump, picking up victories in seven of his last nine outings, with the righty getting wins in five of them.
His last two outings have been gems. Blanco threw seven innings of no-hit ball while fanning eight in a 4-1 win over the Tigers. That was after scattering just three hits across six innings, allowing just an earned run while striking out another eight in a win over the Giants.
Houston is outside the Top 10 in scoring runs, averaging 4.37 per game, but it leads the majors in hitting with a .261 clip while ranking first in fewest strikeouts. They should make Burnes work.
While this will stay tight early, look for the Orioles offense to get it done while winning the bullpen battle: they rank Top 5 in ERA, and Top 3 in both average and WHIP. Those are numbers the ‘Stros can’t keep up with, ranking 15th or worse in all three.
Orioles vs Astros same-game parlay (SGP)
Orioles -1.5
Santander Over 1.5 total bases
Altuve Over 1.5 total bases
We’re tacking on a couple of plus-odds props on hot-hitting players for both sides, hoping they take advantage of seeing the starting pitcher on either side for the first time.
Anthony Santander has been scorching for the Orioles, coming off a 3-for-5 game against the Astros, including his 20th jack of the year. He’s now homered in back-to-back games, and has picked up at least two total bases in five of his last seven games. He’s got 10 doubles and 14 home runs against righties this season.
Jose Altuve remains a hit machine for the Astros, putting up a .301 average on the season. He went 3-for-5 in the 14-11 win, cranking a pair of doubles while driving in a pair. Altuve has hit safely in 19 of his last 25 games, but he’s also picked up at least two total bases in 11 of those contests, including four of his last seven.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Orioles vs Astros odds
Orioles vs Astros live odds
Orioles vs Astros opening odds
- Run line: Baltimore -1.5 | Houston +1.5
- Moneyline: Baltimore -140 | Houston +129
- Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8
Orioles vs Astros spread and Over/Under analysis
- Houston has won six of the last nine head-to-head meetings.
- Baltimore has won four of its last six overall.
- The Orioles have cashed the Over in four of their last five.
- The Over has hit in six of the last eight matchups between the teams.
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Orioles vs Astros trend
The underdogs have won each of the last six games between these teams. Find more MLB betting trends for Orioles vs. Astros
Orioles vs Astros game info
| Location: | Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX |
| Date: | Saturday, 6-22-2024 |
| First pitch: | 4:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | MASN, SCHN |
| Orioles starting pitcher: | Corbin Burnes (8-2, 2.14 ERA) |
| Astros starting pitcher: | Ronel Blanco (7-2, 2.43 ERA) |
Orioles vs Astros latest injuries
Orioles vs Astros weather
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