Detroit Tigers (58-69) vs Houston Astros (72-57)
Game Info: Friday, August 25, 2023 at 6:40 pm (Comerica Park)
Matt Manning (5-4) (4.31) vs Framber Valdez (9-9) (3.55)
Betting Odds: Detroit Tigers +150 / Houston Astros -180 --- Over/Under: 9 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Houston Astros will play the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of their series on Friday night at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit is coming off of a series loss, while Houston split a four game set with the Red Sox. Houston is in a huge battle for the AL West and they need to take advantage of this series.
Astros Preview
The Houston Astros are 72-57 this season and they have lost five of their last seven games. Houston is coming off of a series split with the Red Sox, where they won two games and lost two games. The Astros lost 17-1 on Thursday afternoon after J.P. France completely fell apart on the mound. Houston has allowed 24 runs in their last two games. The Houston pitching staff has a 3.95 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a .246 opponent batting average this season. The Astros offense has scored 630 runs with a .254 batting average and a .326 on base percentage. Kyle Tucker is batting .293 with 25 home runs and 95 RBI’s for the Astros. The projected starting pitcher for Houston is Framber Valdez, who is 9-9 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over 154.2 innings pitched this year.
Tigers Preview
The Detroit Tigers are 58-69 this season and they have won three of their last five games. Detroit is coming off of a series loss to the Cubs, where they lost two out of three games. The Tigers have hit the ball decently well in past games, scoring at least four runs in five straight. The Detroit pitching staff has a 4.45 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a .246 opponent batting average. The Tigers offense has scored 508 runs with a .235 batting average and a .301 on base percentage this year. Spencer Torkelson is batting .233 with 23 home runs and 68 RBI’s for the Tigers. The projected starting pitcher for Detroit is Matt Manning, who is 5-4 with a 4.31 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 64.2 innings pitched this season.
Detroit Tigers Team Facts
- The underdogs have won five of the Tigers' last six games at Comerica Park.
- The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last five games as home underdogs.
- The Tigers have led after 5 innings in four of their last five games as underdogs.
- The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the last three night games between the Astros and Tigers at Comerica Park.
- The Tigers have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three home games against AL West opponents.
Houston Astros Team Facts
- The Astros have won each of their last eight games as road favorites against AL Central opponents.
- The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last 11 Friday road games.
- The Astros have led after 7 innings in each of their last nine night games against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
- The Astros have trailed after 5 innings in five of their last six games as road favorites.
- The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Astros' last six games.
Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts
- Kerry Carpenter has hit a home run in three of the Tigers' last four games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Kerry Carpenter has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Tigers' last five games.
- Spencer Torkelson has scored at least one run in seven of the Tigers' last eight games against AL opponents.
- Matt Manning has recorded four or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances with the Tigers as underdogs against AL West opponents.
- Kerry Carpenter has recorded at least one hit in each of the Tigers' last 14 games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Kerry Carpenter has recorded at least one total base in each of the Tigers' last 14 games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Kyle Tucker has hit a home run in four of the Astros' last five games as favorites against the Tigers.
- Alex Bregman has recorded an RBI in each of his last four appearances against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
- Jose Altuve has recorded two or more hits in each of his last five road appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Framber Valdez has recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of his last nine appearances in night games against AL teams that held a losing record.
- Jose Altuve has scored at least one run in each of his last seven road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Astros' last eight Friday night games against opponents that held a losing record.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Detroit Tigers ranks 28th in the league for steals this season (57).
- The Detroit Tigers ranks 27th in the league for batting average this season (.235).
- The Houston Astros ranks 7th in the league for RBI's this season (610).
- The Houston Astros ranks 7th in the league for strikeouts this season (1160).
Pick
Houston comes into this series right in the middle of the AL West battle and really needs to take advantage of a Detroit team that is 11 games under .500. Houston is starting Framber Valdez, who has allowed 15 earned runs in his last three starts (19.2 IP). Detroit is starting Matt Manning, who has allowed one earned run in his last 11.1 innings of work. Manning has allowed 13 earned runs in his last two home starts against the Rays and Angels. Valdez has really struggled recently and he will face a Detroit lineup that is hitting the ball well. Take the over here.
David’s Pick Over 9
AUTHOR: David Racey
Mitch's Take...
