Free MLB Pick: Astros vs Pirates Odds
Looking for Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates free picks? MLB betting sees the Astros taking on the Pirates on Monday, August 22nd at PNC Park. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions.
(63-60) Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (62-59)
Date: Monday, August 22, 2016
Time: 7:05 PM ET
Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Projected Pitchers: Doug Fister vs. Jameson Taillon
MLB Moneyline Odds: Pittsburgh -160
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Off
MLB Betting Total: 8.0 -115
Live MLB Odds
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These two wild card contenders have been playing very inconsistently lately. After a solid road trip where the Pirates took 5 of 6 from the Giants and the Dodgers, they returned home to get swept by another wild card contender in the Marlins.
The Astros have won three in a row after losing five straight before that.
Houston Astros
The call up of Yuliesky Gurriel has made the already loaded Astros lineup even stronger. He is a proven professional hitter and at age 32 don’t except any immaturity to slow his talent down.
A lineup with Altuve, Correa, Springer, Bregman, Gattis, and now Gurriel is one to feel confidently about for a run total over bet.
The inexperience of Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon could show against this loaded lineup and make you feel even more confident about the over.
Astros starter Doug Fister has been good but not great for Houston as he sports a 3.76 ERA – a bit above his 3.46 career ERA.
He has given up nine runs in his last two starts but was bailed out in one of them to pick up a win as the powerful Astros lineup put up 15 runs to back him up.
Fister has the potential to implode and the balanced Pirates lineup could force him into that.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Getting swept at home is never a great thing for an aspiring playoff team but getting swept by a team also in the race makes it even worse.
Following three straight losses to the Marlins, the Pirates will look to get their bats rolling again after scoring 38 runs in six games on their West Coast trip to LA and San Fran.
Taillon will try to straighten things out for them and he has been great lately.
He has a 1.80 ERA in three August starts and his 8 percent home run to fly ball ratio has been spectacular. However, he is still 24 and that type of ratio doesn’t sustain itself historically.
The Astros lineup is much better than the struggling Giants, Padres, and Reds lineups that he has dominated in August. Expect Taillon to have a much more difficult time with the Astros.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Over is 8-0 in HOU last 8 games on grass
- Over is 8-0 in PIT last 8 interleague home games
- Over is 20-8 in PIT las 28 interleague games
- HOU are 8-1 in Fister’s last 9 road starts
- HOU are 24-10 in their last 34 interleague games
Free Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Prediction:
Jose Altuve has done his share in contributing towards Over bets recently with an RBI in 5 of his last 6 games including 5 RBIs in one game. The surrounding cast will help too as Springer has really found his power groove.
Fister could neutralize the Pirates lineup enough for Astros to win but has potential to implode.
The over is the pick here as these are two very dangerous lineups
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Game total over 8
Take a look for a futures bet on Altuve to win MVP as some places still have him at +150 or better.
Surely Betts and Trout will be in the mix but if the Astros make the playoffs it will be difficult to argue against Altuve as the most valuable to his team.
MLB Free Score Prediction: Astros 7-5
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