San Diego Padres vs Houston Astros Prediction 4/18/25 MLB Picks

The San Diego Padres and the Houston Astros meet Friday in MLB action from Daikin Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a San Diego Padres vs. Houston Astros prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The San Diego Padres will start Kyle Hart in this game and Hart is 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA and 8 strikeouts this season. This will be Hart’s first career start against the Astros. Ryan Gusto will start this game for the Astros and is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts this season. This will be Gusto’s first career start against the Padres.

San Diego Padres Recap

The San Diego Padres come into this game looking to build on their series win over the Chicago Cubs thanks to a 4-2 win last time out to improve to 15-4 on the year. After this series, the Padres will head on the road for an interleague series against the Detroit Tigers.

Padres Win 8 Of Their Last 10

Manny Machado has 23 hits including a team-high 8 doubles and 6 stolen bases while Fernando Tatis Jr. has 24 hits with a team-high 6 home runs and 14 RBIs along with 6 stolen bases of his own this season. Luis Arraez has added 22 hits with 3 doubles while Jackson Merrill’s added 14 hits with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs as well. Xander Bogaerts also has 6 doubles and 4 stolen bases as well this season.

Why the San Diego Padres will win

• The Padres have won each of their last seven games as underdogs against American League opponents following a home win.
• The Astros have lost four of their last five games as favorites against National League opponents.
• The Padres have covered the run line in each of their last seven games.
• The Astros have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games against National League opponents.

San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts

• Manny Machado has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances at Daikin Park.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. has hit a home run in four of the Padres’ last five night games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Jose Iglesias has recorded at least one Single in 15 of his last 16 appearances with his team as a road underdog.
• Xander Bogaerts has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 19 appearances against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
• Luis Campusano has scored at least one run in each of his last four road appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Jackson Merrill has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four appearances in night games against AL teams that held a losing record.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. ranks T4th in the league in Home Runs (6) this season.

Houston Astros Recap

The Houston Astros come into this game looking to bounce back after a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Cardinals last time out to fall to 8-10 on the year. After this series, the Astros will welcome the Toronto Blue Jays to town.

Astros Drop Another Road Series

Jose Altuve leads the Astros with 23 hits including 3 home runs and 7 RBIs. Jeremy Pena also has 3 homers and 4 stolen bases while Yordan Alvarez has 2 doubles and a team-high 10 RBIs with 15 strikeouts as well. Brendan Rodgers has a pair of doubles while Jake Meyers has a pair of doubles as well and Christian Walker has also accrued a team-high 23 strikeouts so far this season. Altuve also has 3 stolen bases while Jake Meyers has a team-high 6 stolen bases this season.

Why the Houston Astros will win

• The Astros have won 14 of their last 15 home games following a road loss.
• The Padres have lost five of their last six night games at Daikin Park following a win.
• The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last seven games following a road loss.
• The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five road games against American League opponents following a win.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Isaac Paredes has hit a home run in each of the Astros’ last three games as home favorites.
• Isaac Paredes has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Astros’ last five games as home favorites.
• Jose Altuve has scored at least one run in each of the Astros’ last seven home games against NL West opponents.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros’ last eight games as home favorites against NL opponents.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last eight games.
• Jake Meyers ranks T5th in the league in Steals (6) this season.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the last six games between the Padres and Astros at Daikin Park have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Six of the Padres’ last seven games as underdogs against American League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.

San Diego Padres vs. Houston Astros Prediction

I’m on the Padres here. This Astros team hasn’t had a ton of at-bats against lefties this season, and historically, this Astros team has been a solid unit against left-handed pitching. The problem is that the Astros look like a shell of those former Astros teams this season, and the Houston Astros have been so inconsistent with their results that it’s hard to feel good about Houston stringing together any positive results, and I think that the Padres could deal a blow to the Astros to start the series. Give me San Diego in this one to draw first blood.