Houston Astros (31-38) vs Detroit Tigers (33-35)
Game Info: Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 4:10 pm (Minute Maid Park)
The Line: Betting Odds: Houston Astros -130 / Detroit Tigers +110 — Over/Under: 7.5
The Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros meet Saturday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Detroit Tigers vs Houston Astros Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Detroit Tigers will send out Jack Flaherty for the start here and Flaherty is 3-4 with a 3.22 ERA and 94 strikeouts this season. In his career, Flaherty is 0-2 with a 4.08 ERA and 24 strikeouts against Houston. The Houston Astros will trot out Justin Verlander here and Verlander is 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA and 51 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against Detroit, Verlander is 3-2 with a 1.36 ERA and 40 strikeouts.
Detroit Tigers Recap
The Detroit Tigers will look to rebound after starting the series with a 4-0 loss in Friday’s opener, putting the Tigers at risk of losing a third straight series if they were to drop Saturday’s matchup against the Astros. The Tigers will take on the Braves after this series.
Tigers Starting To Stumble
Riley Greene leads the Tigers with 62 hits including 12 home runs and 30 RBIs along with 14 doubles, a .245 batting average and a .338 OBP in addition to a team-high 78 strikeouts this season. Mark Canha has 11 doubles, 6 home runs and 28 RBI and Javier Baez has a team-high 6 stolen bases. Matt Vierling also has 56 hits as well as 4 triples while Wenceel Perez has 5 triples and Kerry Carpenter has 10 doubles and 4 triples of his own with 29 RBIs.
Why the Detroit Tigers will win
- The Astros have lost seven of their last eight games as favorites against American League opponents following a win.
- The Tigers have won four of their last five games as road underdogs against AL West opponents following a loss.
- The Astros have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games against AL Central opponents following a home win.
- The Tigers have covered the run line in each of their last four day games following a loss.
- The Tigers have led after 3 innings in each of their last three day games.
Houston Astros Recap
The Houston Astros come into this one looking to build on their win in Friday’s opener over the Tigers to get back on track after their series loss to the San Francisco Giants to start the week.
Astros Trying To Complete The Road Back
Jose Altuve has 85 hits and a .298 batting average with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 14 doubles while Kyle Tucker has a team-high 19 homers with 11 doubles and 40 RBIs. Yordan Alvarez also has 14 homers with 36 RBIs and 16 doubles while Tucker has the Astros’ team lead with 10 stolen bases so far this season. Jeremy Pena also has 77 hits and a .288 batting average as well as 10 stolen bases of his own this season.
Why the Houston Astros will win
- The Astros have won each of their last nine games as favorites against the Tigers following a win.
- The Tigers have lost seven of their last eight games following a road loss.
- The Tigers have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games following a road loss.
- The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last four games as favorites against the Tigers.
- The Tigers have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four road day games.
- The Tigers have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last seven road day games.
Detroit Tigers vs Houston Astros Prediction
I’m on the under here. Jack Flaherty’s pitched his far better baseball on the road this season and I’d argue he’s the starting pitcher in better form coming into this game. On the other side, Verlander hasn’t been anything to write home about in recent outings, but he’s fully capable of pulling out vintage Verlander at any time and throwing a 7+ inning gem, and the Tigers have really cooled off against right-handed pitching in the last couple of weeks after a strong month of May. I think we have a low-scoring duel brewing in this one, so give me the under here.