Pittsburgh Pirates vs Houston Astros Prediction MLB Picks 7/31/24

In this article we will formulate a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Houston Astros prediction for this MLB game on Wednesday, July 31st at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. To formulate this prediction for game three in the series, we will examine:

• The Pirates recent form and recent player performance 
• The Astros recent form and recent play performance
• Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Pittsburgh
• Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Houston 
• Recent betting trends in games played between Pittsburgh and Houston
• A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between Pittsburgh and Houston

Pirates Look for Fourth Straight Win 

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 55-52 this season and they have won three games in a row. Pittsburgh has won the first two games in this series by scores of 5-3 and 6-2. Prior to this series, the Pirates lost two out of three against the Diamondbacks, won two out of three against the Cardinals, and won two out of three against the Phillies. Pittsburgh is 11-4 in their last 15 games and they are tied for second in the NL Central. 

The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 3.78 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and a .247 opponent batting average. The Pirates offense has scored 447 runs with a .232 batting average and a .301 on base percentage. Bryan Reynolds is batting .287 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI’s for the Pirates this season. Pittsburgh has scored at least five runs in four straight games. 

Astros Back to Second in the AL West 

The Houston Astros are 55-52 this year and they have lost three games in a row. Houston has dropped the first two games in this series and they have allowed 11 runs in the losses. Prior to this series, the Astros won two out of three against the Dodgers, lost two out of three against the Athletics, and won two out of three against the Mariners. Houston is 3-6 in their last nine games and they are second in the AL West. 

The Houston pitching staff has a 4.02 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and a .237 opponent batting average. The Astros offense has scored 497 runs with a .262 batting average and a .321 on base percentage. Yordan Alvarez is batting .299 with 20 home runs and 55 RBI’s for the Astros this season. Houston has allowed at least five runs in four straight games. 

Starting Pitchers

The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Luis Ortiz, who is 5-2 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 78.2 innings pitched this year. Ortiz has allowed one earned run or fewer in five of their last six games. The projected starting pitcher for Houston is Framber Valdez, who is 9-5 with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP over 110.1 innings pitched this season. Valdez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three straight starts. 

Why the Astros will beat the Pirates

• The Pirates have lost each of their last eight Wednesday night games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in 13 of their last 14 Wednesday night games against American League opponents.

Total Runs Facts

• Twelve of the Astros’ last 16 home games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Three of the Pirates’ last four games have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last six games against AL West opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last five home games.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Yainer Diaz has scored a run in four of the Astros’ last five home games against NL Central opponents.
• Framber Valdez has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances at Minute Maid Park.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one Single in 16 of the Astros’ last 17 night games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Framber Valdez has recorded six or more strikeouts in 10 of his last 11 home appearances against NL opponents.
• Yainer Diaz has hit a home run in four of the Astros’ last five home games against NL Central opponents.
• Yainer Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Astros’ last five home games against NL Central opponents.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 appearances against opponents that held a winning record.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Connor Joe has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight road appearances against AL opponents.
• Andrew McCutchen has recorded a Double in three of his last four road appearances against AL opponents.
• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of his eight previous appearances in night games against AL West teams that held a winning record.
• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Single in each of the Pirates’ last six games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one total base in each of his eight previous appearances in night games against AL West teams that held a winning record.
• Michael A. Taylor has hit a home run in each of the Pirates’ last two road games against the Astros.
• Michael A. Taylor has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Pirates’ last three night games against opponents that held a winning record.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Houston Astros rank 3rd in the league for strikeouts against this season (759).
• The Houston Astros rank 27th in the league for walks this season (288).
• The Pittsburgh Pirates rank 27th in the league for doubles this season (152).
• The Pittsburgh Pirates rank 27th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.301).

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Houston Astros Prediction 

Houston comes into this matchup looking to snap a small losing streak and they have not played very well over the last two weeks. The Astros were one of the hottest teams in the MLB a few weeks ago, but now they are back to second in the division. Houston is 30-24 at home, while Pittsburgh is 29-26 on the road. The Pirates are having a great season and they are red hot right now, but they traded away Perez, who was supposed to be the pitcher for this game. Luis Ortiz is shown as a projected starter, but that could change on Wednesday. Valdez has been hit or miss this season for Houston, but I do think he will deliver a strong start for the Astros to avoid a fourth straight loss. My Pittsburgh Pirates vs Houston Astros prediction is for Houston to win by two runs.