The New York Yankees (44-42) and Houston Astros (54-34) play the first game of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.
LHP Nestor Cortes is the projected starting pitcher for the Yankees. He is 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12.4 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 across 21 IP over one start and seven relief appearances.
In his only start of the season, Cortes allowed 1 run in 3 1/3 innings against the New York Mets Sunday. He has given up just 3 earned runs all season and has struck out 29 batters in 21 innings. In 6 career innings against the Astros, he has allowed 11 earned runs and struck out four.
RHP Jake Odorizzi is the projected starting pitcher for the Astros. He is 3-3 with a 3.70 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 over 41 1/3 IP spanning nine starts and a relief outing.
Odorizzi pitched at least 6 innings only once this season, which was his last time out (6 innings, 1 ER). The Astros are 3-1 in his last four starts, with two of the three wins decided by at least 5 runs.
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Yankees at Astros odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:05 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Yankees +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Astros -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Yankees +1.5 (-185) | Astros -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under: 9 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Prediction
Astros 4, Yankees 3
Money line (ML)
The Astros had won six games in a row before losing 2-1 to the Oakland Athletics Thursday. They held their opponent to 3 or fewer runs in six of their last seven games and still lead the majors with 5.55 runs scored per game.
The Yankees continue to struggle despite winning three of their last four games; they’ve dropped eight of their last 12 overall. Bet the ASTROS (-130) to win outright.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Astros haven’t been winning in dominant fashion the way they were in June, going just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games. I still think they’ll find a way to beat the Yankees with Cortes on the mound as their opener, but New York will keep it close enough to cover the spread.
I would either PASS on the spread or make a small wager on the YANKEES +1.5 (-185) to cover but the reward isn’t great.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total finished the projection in four of the Astros’ last five games. The Yankees have been trending in the opposite direction with six of their last eight outings going Over, but I don’t see a major offensive outburst coming for either team Friday.
Bet the UNDER 9 (-105) tonight.
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