Astros vs Padres MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The teams started the four game series by splitting a pair, and headed into Wednesday’s Game 3 with the Padres coming off a rare 8-run win. But to the surprise of many, turned around and turned in another 8-run performance.
HOU: Lucas Harrell (7-6, 4.43) vs. SD: Edinson Volquez (5-7, 3.69)
Date/Time: Thursday, July 19 – 10:05 PM EST
Venue: Petco Park, San Diego, California
Broadcast: FOX Sports (Houston), FOX Sports (San Diego)
LINE:-152 Padres
TOTAL: 6.5
Now they will try to close out the series on at Petco Park on Thursday, against the the major league-worst Houston Astros, with another offensive outburst.
Although the Padres won for the fourth time in five games, San Diego ranks last in the majors with 336 runs.
Nevertheless, the Friars are finally seeing some production at the plate from their younger guys, and are having better at-bats up and down the lineup.
Meanwhile, the Astros halted a 13-game road-losing streak with Monday’s win, but failed to keep the momentum going, and has been outscored by a 2:1 ratio and is batting just over .150 with runners in scoring position.
The Astros could, however, get a little help when they face Padres’ starter Edinson Volquez, who after leading up to the All-Star break only surrendered a combined two earned runs over his previous three starts, allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings in a 7-6 loss against the Dodgers on Saturday. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The 29-year old righty was making his 19th start of the season and was fortunate that he was able to escape with a no-decision. He is 2-4 with a 3.22 ERA in 11 home starts this season and has racked up 67 strikeouts over that stretch. Still, his 67 free passes on the season ranks top in all of baseball.
Volquez will be opposed by Lucas Harrell who was in line for his sixth loss of the season Saturday against the Giants. But ninth-inning rally bailed him out with a no-decision in his first start after the All-Star break.
It was his second consecutive no-decision, as the 27-year-old righty has gone 5-4 with a 4.17 ERA in his previous nine starts. He is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his last three starts with the Astros.
He won’t get any breaks, as Harrell will have to face the Padres Yonder Alonso, who went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI on Wednesday, along with a healthy Carlos Quentin.
Quentin, who made his season debut May 28, has missed the first two games of the series with soreness in his surgically repaired right knee. Quentin batted .322 with seven homers in his first 26 games, but is 6 for 40 with one home run in his last 11. The left fielder went 1 for 3 in Game 3, with a walk and a run scored. He’s batting .268 on the year.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Padres- A hard one to call. Both teams have their fair of struggles that could cause them to implode at any given moment. However, the Padres have looked legit, so I will go with San Diego in this one.
