Free MLB Pick: Yankees vs. Astros Odds
Looking for New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Yankees taking on the Astros on Friday, July 9th, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions like this Yankees Astros free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping
(44-42) New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros (54-34)
Date: Friday, July 9th, 2021
Time: 8:10 PM ET
Venue: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX.
Projected Pitchers: Cortes (NYY) vs. Odorizzi (HOU)
MLB Moneyline Odds: Yankees +125 | Astros -145
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Yankees -160, Astros +140
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: 9.5 (under -120)
New York Yankees
After dropping three straight series against the Red Sox, Angels and Mets, the Yankees took two out of three from the Mariners this week.
They missed a chance to sweep on Thursday, however, and managed just one hit in a 4–0 loss.
Logan Gilbert, a Mariners’ rookie, went the first seven innings in that one and gave up the only hit, striking out eight and walking none. Seattle’s bullpen finished it out with six up and six down in the eighth and ninth.
And that was against a New York lineup that is just about entirely healthy now. There are no more excuses for a lineup that, up to this point, has produced below the league’s average.
Several guys have yet to get going but the clearest case in point is Gleyber Torrers, who has just a 76 OPS+ after three consecutive seasons in the triple-digits to begin his career.
He took a step back in 42 games last season but still managed to produce just above league average. This year, despite some improved walk-to-strikeout numbers, he has been sapped of his power and no longer strikes opposing pitchers with fear.
After hitting 62 home runs in his first two seasons (averaging about 130 games played per season), he’s hit just six in the last two (116 total games so far).
Houston Astros
Like the Yankees, Houston missed the chance to sweep on Thursday, losing 2–1 against Oakland.
But unlike New York, the Astros’ loss yesterday was their first of the month. The series against Oakland was at home so Houston will stay put, while the Yankees traveled to Texas after playing in Seattle.
Jake Odorizzi will start game one of this series. He came over to Houston as a free agent in the offseason after signing a two-year deal with a third-year player option.
He’s only thrown 41.1 innings in 10 appearances (nine starts and one long-relief appearance) but the numbers are good. His WHIP is under 1.00, which would be a first for him, and his ERA+ has him somewhere between the average and the elite.
In fact, since his first two starts of the season, Odorizzi has not given up more than three earned runs in any one appearance (he’s done that twice). In six of his last eight appearances, he’s given up either zero or one run.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Yankees are 0-4 in their last 4 Friday games.
- Yankees are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. American League West.
- Astros are 20-7 in their last 27 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-0 in Yankees last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 overall.
- Head to Head: Yankees are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Houston.
- Head to Head: Over is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings.
Free New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros MLB Prediction: it stays under.
Odorizzi is throwing extremely well of late. Cortes has proven valuable for the Yankees, too.
Cortes won’t go deep but that just sets the Yankees up to turn to their strength, which is the bullpen.
Without much concern about either guy struggling to adjust to life without the sticky stuff, I’m going to feel pretty good about backing the under against a high total with a couple of lineups that aren’t exactly hot of late.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Under 9.5
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