The Houston Astros (68-52) and the Miami Marlins (63-57) play the middle contest of a 3-game interleague series at loanDepot Park in South Florida on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Astros vs. Marlins odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Miami leads 1-0 after Monday’s 5-1 victory
The Astros were disappointing in the series opener. While Houston outhit Miami 8-7 in the opener, LHP Framber Valdez fell apart late serving up 2 HR in the 8th inning to 2B Luis Arraez and OF Jorge Soler. DH Josh Bell also homered in the 8th as the Marlins posted a late-inning offensive explosion for the 2nd straight game.
Houston is still 9-5 in the last 14 games, although the Astros have plated just 2 total runs in the last 2 games, both losses. The Under has cashed in consecutive games after a 5-1 run to the Over in the previous 6 games.
Miami has won 3 in a row, and the Marlins have picked up 5 victories in the previous 6 outings. The Under is 10-4 in the last 14 games, while going 5-3 in the last 8 games at loanDepot Park.
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Astros at Marlins projected starters
RHP Cristian Javier vs. RHP Johnny Cueto
Javier (8-2, 4.36 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 8.4 K/9 in 117 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K in an 8-2 road win vs. the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday
- 2023 road splits: 4-1, 5.17 ERA (69 2/3 IP, 40 ER – 14 HR), .226 opponent batting average (OBA) in 13 starts
Cueto (0-3, 5.33 ERA) makes his 6th start and 7th overall appearance. He has a 1.00 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 27 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 3 ER, 5 H (2 HR), 1 BB, 5 K in a 5-4 road victory Wednesday vs. the Cincinnati Reds
- 2023 home splits: 0-3, 6.16 ERA (19 IP, 13 ER – 5 HR), .206 OBA in 4 starts
Astros at Marlins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Astros -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Marlins +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Astros -1.5 (+125) | Marlins +1.5 (-150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Astros at Marlins picks and predictions
Prediction
Astros 5, Marlins 3
Moneyline
The ASTROS (-135), looking for the bounce back, are the play on the road in Game 2 of this series, as the pitching matchup is squarely in their favor.
Yes, Javier has been a little more giving on the road than at home, but he enters with confidence after winning in Baltimore last time out. He has lost just once in his last 16 starts, too, with Houston going 11-5 in those outings. Meanwhile, Cueto is still searching for his 1st victory in a Marlins (+110) uniform.
Run line/Against the spread
The ASTROS -1.5 (+125) are worth a look on the run line, but be careful.
Houston is just 2-5 in the last 7 games on the run line as a favorite, while going 1-6 in the last 7 on the road against the run line when favored.
Still, there isn’t a lot to like about the Marlins +1.5 (-150) with Cueto toeing the slab.
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Over/Under
UNDER 8.5 (-110) is the lean, but play it lightly.
The Over is 5-3 across the last 8 games for the Astros, while going 4-3 in the last 7 on the road. The Over has also cashed in 5 of Javier’s last 8 starts overall. However, the latter is a bit misleading, as it’s mostly due to the offense, and nothing Javier did. He has allowed 3 or fewer runs in each of his previous 5 outings.
For the Marlins, the Under has cashed in each of the last 4 starts by Cueto, with the offense providing a total of just 14 runs in his 6 overall appearances.
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