Tag: astros

World Series to feature pair of Notre Dame baseball standouts

World Series hopes and predictions?

The 2022 World Series will feature the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies as the Fall Classic gets underway on Friday night.  It’s the Astros’ fourth trip in the last six years, having won it all in 2017 while the Phillies are making their first trip since 2009 when they fell to the Yankees.

The Astros will feature designated hitter [autotag]Trey Mancini[/autotag] who was dealt from the Orioles at this year’s trade deadline.  In 51 games with Houston this regular season, Mancini struggled to a .176 batting average, .622 OPS, and hit eight home runs.  He’s 0-12 with a walk and hit-by-pitch this postseason.

Phillies outfielder [autotag]Matt Vierling[/autotag] hit .260 this regular season with six homers.  He’s 2-10 this postseason with a double and RBI for the National League champions.

Mancini starred at Notre Dame from 2011-2013 while Vierling did so from 2016-18.  Whichever wins will become just the third former Notre Dame player to win a World Series crown since [autotag]Brad Lidge[/autotag] did so with the Phillies in 2008, as they’ll join[autotag] A.J. Pollock[/autotag] who did so with the Dodgers in 2020.

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Saints-Texans could be overshadowed by Astros-Rangers in Sunday’s ALCS Game 1

Sunday’s Saints-Texans game could be overshadowed by the Astros-Rangers playoff game 20 minutes uptown. Major League Baseball is fine-tuning its schedule for ALCS Game 1:

The NFL might be overshadowed this Sunday, at least in the Houston metro area. The New Orleans Saints will kick off with the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium at Noon CT — with MLB’s American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers set to begin about 20 minutes uptown at Minute Maid Park.

Now, we aren’t sure when that playoff game is going to start; the MLB is fine-tuning their playoff schedule as various series wrap up around the country. But what’s certain is that the Saints and Texans are looking like an undercard matchup before a heated tilt between two in-state rivals.

There’s a lot on the line: whoever wins this best-of-seven series will earn the AL pennant and advance to the World Series. On top of that, the Rangers own a two-game lead in the “Lone Star Series” history with the Astros, but Houston won 9 of their 13 games in the MLB regular season this year.

At any rate — expect this MLB playoff game to start with plenty of time to spare between the Saints-Texans final whistle. Houston is a strong sports town and they’ll want a packed house, not to mention plenty of time for viewers at home to tune in. We’ll keep an eye out for a confirmed start time and any scheduling conflicts.

Update: MLB announced that first pitch for Astros-Rangers is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT. There’s plenty of time between the two games, but plan on heavy traffic in downtown Houston if you’re making the trip.

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Ranking all 30 MLB teams in 2023, from least to most watchable

Which teams to watch when Shohei Ohtani isn’t batting or on the mound

Spring training is winding down, final roster cuts are being made and Opening Day is practically here for the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

Which means it’s once again time to renew those MLBTV subscriptions and curse at the league’s horrible blackout restrictions. But which teams should you pay attention to that are available in your region?

Allow us to help with the 2023 MLB Watchability Rankings. A complete list of all 30 teams to help you decide which games are worth your time and which are perfect for a midday nap.

MORE: All 30 stadiums ranked in 2023

The 2022 Watchability Rankings are available here. And you can find the 2021 list here. The BetFTW crew also gave their best guesses for which teams will hit their win total projections this season —putting money on a team instantly makes them more watchable when all else fails.

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Justin Verlander vs. Dylan Cease is the MLB pitching matchup of the year. Here’s how to bet on it.

Houston’s record as a road favorite is notable, but Tuesday is all about the pitching.

It’s incredibly rare to see the top two Cy Young candidates matchup this late in the regular season, which means baseball fans are in for a treat on Tuesday night.

When the Houston Astros face the Chicago White Sox, they’ll send Justin Verlander (-150 to win Cy Young at Tipico) to the mound against Dylan Cease (+190) and there’s really no understating what both of them have done this year.

White Sox (+1.5) vs. Astros (-130)

Over/Under 6.5

Named AL pitcher of the month for June and July, Cease has an MLB record streak of 14 starts with no more than one earned run allowed—surpassing Jacob deGrom’s absurd mark of 13 in 2021. Over that stretch the Sox star has a 0.66 ERA which stands as the lowest for any pitcher during a 14-game span in the last 100 years.

Here’s a quick glance at how the stats for Cease and Verlander stack up in the AL:

Category

Dylan Cease AL Rank

Justin Verlander AL Rank

WAR

1 (4.4)

2 (4.4)

ERA

2 (1.96)

1 (1.85)

Strikeouts

2 (174)

9 (134)

Home Runs Per 9 IP

5 (0.699)

8 (0.794)

Win Probability Added

5 (3.0)

1 (3.5)

Hits Per 9 IP

4 (6.435)

2 (6.154)

So, yeah, these guys are for real.

The White Sox have won four straight. The Astros have won four of their last five after dropping the series opener in Chicago on Monday.

Let’s figure out how to bet on them.

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Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners odds, tips and betting trends

At Minute Maid Park on Monday, the Seattle Mariners (12-10) take on the Houston Astros (11-11), fellow members of the AL West, at 8:10 PM ET. The Astros are a home favorite (-127) against the Mariners (+108). The starting pitchers are Jake Odorizzi …

At Minute Maid Park on Monday, the Seattle Mariners (12-10) take on the Houston Astros (11-11), fellow members of the AL West, at 8:10 PM ET.

The Astros are a home favorite (-127) against the Mariners (+108). The starting pitchers are Jake Odorizzi (1-2) for the Houston Astros, and Marco Gonzales (1-2) for the Seattle Mariners.

The Astros lost 3-2 against the Blue Jays yesterday, with Framber Valdez taking the loss. He threw 6 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on two hits while striking out two. Kyle Tucker went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Astros offensively.

The Mariners beat the Marlins 7-3 yesterday. Julio Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Logan Gilbert got the win, pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run on three hits while striking out five.

Before this Astros vs. Mariners showdown, here is everything you need to prepare for Monday’s MLB action.

Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners Odds and Betting Lines

Major League Baseball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 11:04 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

  • Favorite: Astros (-127, bet $127 to win $100)
  • Underdog: Mariners (+108, bet $100 to win $108)
  • Over/under: 8.5

Deposit $10, GET $200 INSTANTLY: Get action on this game! Place your legal sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook. Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10, get $200 in betting credit instantly. 21+, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Astros Stats and Trends

Astros Betting Records

  • This season, the Astros have won eight out of the 14 games, or 57.1%, in which they’ve been favored.
  • Houston has a record of 5-4 in games where sportsbooks favor them by at least -127 on the moneyline.
  • Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Astros have a 55.9% chance to win.
  • Games involving Houston have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in seven of 22 chances this season.
  • The Astros are 10-12-0 against the spread this season.

Jake Odorizzi (Astros Probable Starter)

  • Odorizzi (1-2) will take the mound for the Astros, his fifth start of the season.
  • The right-hander gave up one earned run and allowed one hit in 6 2/3 innings pitched against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.
  • The 32-year-old has pitched in four games this season with a 6.00 ERA, 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a batting average against of .283.
  • The Mariners have scored 102 runs this season, which ranks fifth in MLB. They are batting .238 for the campaign with 23 home runs, 11th in the league.
  • The right-hander has allowed the Mariners to go 8-for-19 with a triple and four RBI in 4 1/3 innings this season.

Astros Batting Stats

  • The Astros’ 25 home runs rank fifth in Major League Baseball.
  • The offense for the Astros has a slugging percentage of .369 this season, 18th in MLB.
  • Houston has a team batting average of just .214 this season, which ranks 27th among MLB teams.
  • The Astros have scored 82 runs (3.7 per game) this season, which ranks 21st in MLB.
  • Houston has an OBP of .288 this season, which ranks 25th in MLB.
  • The Astros rank 12th in strikeouts per game (8.4) among MLB offenses.

Mariners Stats and Trends

Mariners Betting Records

  • The Mariners have been victorious in six, or 42.9%, of the 14 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
  • Seattle has a mark of 3-5 in contests where oddsmakers favor them by +108 or worse on the moneyline.
  • The Mariners have an implied victory probability of 48.1% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
  • Seattle’s games have gone over the total in 11 of their 22 opportunities.
  • The Mariners have posted a record of 14-8-0 against the spread this season.

Marco Gonzales (Mariners Probable Starter)

  • Gonzales makes the start for the Mariners, his fifth of the season. He is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 14 strikeouts through 14 innings pitched.
  • The lefty’s most recent time out was on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, when he threw a third of an inning, surrendering one earned run while allowing only one hit.
  • The 30-year-old has a 3.86 ERA and 9 strikeouts per nine innings in four games this season, while giving up a batting average of .279 to opposing batters.
  • Gonzales is trying to secure his second quality start of the year.
  • Gonzales will try to record his second outing of five or more innings pitched this season. He’s averaging 3.2 innings per appearance.
  • The opposing Astros offense has the 18th-ranked slugging percentage (.369) and ranks fifth in home runs hit (25) in all of MLB. They have a collective .214 batting average, and are 22nd in the league with 158 total hits and 21st in MLB action scoring 82 runs.
  • Gonzales has thrown seven innings, giving up one earned run on four hits while striking out six against the Astros this season.

Mariners Batting Stats

  • The Mariners average one home run per game to rank 11th in baseball with 23 total home runs .
  • So far this season, the Mariners rank eighth in baseball, slugging .395.
  • Seattle’s .238 batting average ranks 11th in the league.
  • The offense for the Mariners is No. 5 in MLB play scoring 4.6 runs per game (102 total runs).
  • Seattle’s .328 on-base percentage ranks fifth-best in baseball.
  • The Mariners strike out 8.4 times per game to rank 12th in the league.

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook now.

Astros vs. Mariners: Live Streaming Info & Game Time

  • Game Day: Monday, May 2, 2022
  • Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
  • Stadium: Minute Maid Park
  • TV Channel: AT&T Sportsnet Southwest
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros odds, tips and betting trends

On Sunday, the Houston Astros (11-10) are visiting the Toronto Blue Jays (14-8), at 1:37 PM ET, in the final game of a three-game set. The Astros are an underdog (+128 moneyline odds to win) when they visit the Blue Jays (-151). The scheduled …

On Sunday, the Houston Astros (11-10) are visiting the Toronto Blue Jays (14-8), at 1:37 PM ET, in the final game of a three-game set.

The Astros are an underdog (+128 moneyline odds to win) when they visit the Blue Jays (-151). The scheduled starters are Kevin Gausman (1-1) for the Toronto Blue Jays, and Framber Valdez (1-1) for the Houston Astros.

Yesterday, the Blue Jays claimed a 2-1 win over the Astros, with Jose Berrios (5.2 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 5 K) earning the win for the Blue Jays. George Springer finished 2-for-3 with two home runs and two RBI to lead the offense. Luis Garcia (6 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 5 K) picked up the loss for the Astros.

Ahead of the Blue Jays vs. Astros matchup, here’s everything you need to prepare for Sunday’s baseball action.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Odds and Betting Lines

Major League Baseball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 11:03 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

  • Favorite: Blue Jays (-151, bet $151 to win $100)
  • Underdog: Astros (+128, bet $100 to win $128)
  • Over/under: 7.5

Deposit $10, GET $200 INSTANTLY: Get action on this game! Place your legal sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook. Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10, get $200 in betting credit instantly. 21+, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Blue Jays Stats and Trends

Blue Jays Betting Records

  • The Blue Jays have won 11, or 73.3%, of the 15 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
  • Toronto has entered eight games this season favored by -151 or more and is 6-2 in those contests.
  • The implied probability of a win from the Blue Jays, based on the moneyline, is 60.2%.
  • Toronto and its opponents have gone over the total this season in seven of their 21 opportunities.
  • In 21 games with a spread this season, the Blue Jays are 9-12-0 ATS.

Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays Probable Starter)

  • The Blue Jays will hand the ball to Gausman (1-1) for his fifth start of the season.
  • The right-hander’s last start was on Tuesday, when he tossed 6 2/3 innings while giving up no earned runs on four hits in a matchup with the Boston Red Sox.
  • The 31-year-old has pitched to a 2.19 ERA this season with 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 0 walks per nine across four games.
  • He’s going for his third straight quality start.
  • Gausman will look to finish five or more innings for the fifth start in a row.
  • The Astros have scored 80 runs this season, which ranks 20th in MLB. They are batting .214 for the campaign with 25 home runs, fourth in the league.
  • Among qualified pitchers this season, the 31-year-old’s 2.19 ERA ranks 19th, 1.014 WHIP ranks 27th, and 11.3 K/9 ranks 10th.

Blue Jays Batting Stats

  • No team in MLB has hit more homers than the Blue Jays, who have connected on 30 this season.
  • Hitters for the Blue Jays have a combined .416 slugging percentage this season, which ranks third in MLB.
  • Toronto ranks sixth in MLB with a .248 team batting average.
  • The Blue Jays have scored the 12th-most runs in the league this season with 89 (four per game).
  • Toronto has an on-base percentage of .308 this season, which ranks 15th in the league.
  • The Blue Jays rank 21st with an average of 8.5 strikeouts per game.

Astros Stats and Trends

Astros Betting Records

  • The Astros have been chosen as underdogs in seven games this year and have walked away with the win three times (42.9%) in those games.
  • Houston has played as an underdog of +128 or more just one time this year and came away with a loss in that game.
  • Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Astros have a 43.9% chance of pulling out a win.
  • Houston and its opponents have gone over the total this season in seven of their 21 opportunities.
  • The Astros have an against the spread mark of 9-12-0 in 21 games with a line this season.

Framber Valdez (Astros Probable Starter)

  • Valdez (1-1) gets the starting nod for the Astros in his fifth start of the season. He has a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings pitched, with 17 strikeouts.
  • In his last appearance on Tuesday, the left-hander threw 6 2/3 innings against the Texas Rangers, giving up no earned runs while surrendering four hits.
  • During four games this season, the 28-year-old has a 3.15 ERA and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings, while giving up a batting average of .222 to opposing batters.
  • Valdez is trying to secure his third quality start of the season in this outing.
  • Valdez has pitched five or more innings in a game two times this season entering this game.
  • The opposing Blue Jays offense has the third-ranked slugging percentage (.416) and ranks first in home runs hit (30) in all of MLB. They have a collective .248 batting average, and are second in the league with 183 total hits and 12th in MLB play scoring 89 runs.

Astros Batting Stats

  • The Astros average 1.2 home runs per game to rank fourth in MLB play with 25 total home runs .
  • So far this season, the Astros are 18th in baseball, slugging .370.
  • Houston’s .214 batting average ranks 25th in MLB.
  • The offense for the Astros is the No. 20 offense in baseball scoring 3.8 runs per game (80 total runs).
  • Houston ranks 23rd in baseball with a .290 on-base percentage.
  • The Astros’ 8.2 strikeouts per game rank 11th in the league.

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook now.

Blue Jays vs. Astros: Live Streaming Info & Game Time

  • Game Day: Sunday, May 1, 2022
  • Game Time: 1:37 PM ET
  • Stadium: Rogers Centre
  • TV Channel: AT&T Sportsnet Southwest
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros odds, tips and betting trends

The Toronto Blue Jays (13-8) will host the Houston Astros (11-9), Saturday at 3:07 PM ET, with the Astros on a four-game winning run. The Blue Jays are favored (-132 moneyline odds to win) when they host the Astros (+111). The Toronto Blue Jays will …

The Toronto Blue Jays (13-8) will host the Houston Astros (11-9), Saturday at 3:07 PM ET, with the Astros on a four-game winning run.

The Blue Jays are favored (-132 moneyline odds to win) when they host the Astros (+111). The Toronto Blue Jays will give the start to Jose Berrios (1-0, 4.60 ERA) looking for win No. 2 on the season, and the Astros will counter with Luis Garcia (1-0, 4.60).

The Astros defeated the Blue Jays 11-7 yesterday, with Jose Urquidy getting the win (5.0 IP, 4 R, 7 H, 6 K) and Yordan Alvarez leading the way offensively (going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI). Trent Thornton (1.1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 K) took the loss for the Blue Jays.

To prepare for the Blue Jays vs. Astros matchup, here is everything you need to get ready for Saturday’s baseball action.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Odds and Betting Lines

Major League Baseball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 5:03 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

  • Favorite: Blue Jays (-132, bet $132 to win $100)
  • Underdog: Astros (+111, bet $100 to win $111)
  • Over/under: 8.5

Deposit $10, GET $200 INSTANTLY: Get action on this game! Place your legal sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook. Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10, get $200 in betting credit instantly. 21+, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Blue Jays Stats and Trends

Blue Jays Betting Records

  • This season, the Blue Jays have won 10 out of the 14 games, or 71.4%, in which they’ve been favored.
  • Toronto is 6-2 this season when entering a game favored by -132 or more on the moneyline.
  • The bookmakers’ moneyline implies a 56.9% chance of a victory for the Blue Jays.
  • Toronto and its opponents have gone over the total this season in seven of their 20 opportunities.
  • The Blue Jays have an ATS record of 9-11-0 in 20 games with a spread this season.

José Berríos (Blue Jays Probable Starter)

  • The Blue Jays will send Berrios (1-0) to the mound for his fifth start this season.
  • The right-hander gave up two earned runs in seven innings pitched on Monday in his last outing, a matchup with the Boston Red Sox.
  • The 27-year-old has pitched in four games this season with a 4.91 ERA, 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a batting average against of .289.
  • He’s looking to extend his two-game quality start streak.
  • Berrios has pitched five or more innings in three straight games and will look to extend that streak.
  • The Astros are batting .213 this season, 25th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .372 (17th in the league) with 24 home runs.

Blue Jays Batting Stats

  • The Blue Jays lead Major League Baseball in home runs with 28.
  • Fueled by 61 extra-base hits, the Blue Jays rank fourth in MLB with a .415 slugging percentage this season.
  • Toronto ranks fifth in MLB with a .250 team batting average.
  • The Blue Jays rank 11th in the league with 87 total runs scored this season.
  • Toronto has the 15th-ranked on-base percentage in MLB this season (.309).
  • The Blue Jays rank 24th in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of 8.7 whiffs per contest.

Astros Stats and Trends

Astros Betting Records

  • The Astros have been underdogs in six games this season and have come away with the win three times (50%) in those contests.
  • Oddsmakers have given Houston the worst odds of winning they have seen this season with a +111 moneyline listed for this contest.
  • Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Astros have a 47.4% chance of pulling out a win.
  • Houston and their opponents have gone over in seven of their 20 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
  • The Astros are 8-12-0 against the spread in their 20 games that had a posted line this season.

Luis Garcia (Astros Probable Starter)

  • Garcia gets the start for the Astros, his fourth of the season. He is 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA and 14 strikeouts through 15 2/3 innings pitched.
  • The right-hander’s last time out came on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays, when he threw six innings, surrendering five earned runs while allowing five hits.
  • In three games this season, the 25-year-old has an ERA of 4.60, with 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .196 against him.
  • Garcia will aim to pitch five or more innings for his third straight appearance. He’s averaging 5.1 frames per outing.
  • The opposing Blue Jays offense has a collective .250 batting average, and is third in the league with 177 total hits and 11th in MLB action with 87 runs scored. They have the fourth-ranked slugging percentage (.415) and are first in all of MLB with 28 home runs.
  • Head-to-head against the Blue Jays this season, Garcia has thrown six innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits while striking out six.

Astros Batting Stats

  • The Astros average 1.2 home runs per game to rank fourth in MLB play with 24 total home runs .
  • So far this year, the Astros’ .372 slugging percentage is 17th in the league.
  • Houston’s .213 batting average ranks 25th in MLB.
  • The offense for the Astros is the No. 19 offense in MLB play scoring 4.0 runs per game (79 total runs).
  • Houston ranks 23rd in baseball with a .291 on-base percentage.
  • Astros hitters strike out 8.3 times per game, the 10th-lowest average in the league.

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook now.

Blue Jays vs. Astros: Live Streaming Info & Game Time

  • Game Day: Saturday, April 30, 2022
  • Game Time: 3:07 PM ET
  • Stadium: Rogers Centre
  • TV Channel: AT&T Sportsnet Southwest
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros odds, tips and betting trends

A series opener between the Toronto Blue Jays (13-7) and Houston Astros (10-9) is scheduled for Friday at 7:07 PM ET, at Rogers Centre. The Astros are an underdog (+100 moneyline odds) when they take on the Blue Jays (-120). The matchup on the mound …

A series opener between the Toronto Blue Jays (13-7) and Houston Astros (10-9) is scheduled for Friday at 7:07 PM ET, at Rogers Centre.

The Astros are an underdog (+100 moneyline odds) when they take on the Blue Jays (-120). The matchup on the mound for this contest is set with the Toronto Blue Jays looking to Yusei Kikuchi (0-1), and Jose Urquidy (1-1) taking the ball for the Houston Astros.

The Blue Jays kocked off the Red Sox by a 1-0 score in their most recent game yesterday. Alejandro Kirk went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead them offensively while Alek Manoah picked up the win after throwing seven innings without giving up an earned run on three hits, while striking out seven.

The Astros secured a 3-2 victory over the Rangers yesterday. Kyle Tucker (1-for-4 with two RBI) led the way offensively, while Justin Verlander got the win on the mound after going seven innings, giving up one earned run on four hits while striking out eight.

Get ready for the Blue Jays vs. Astros with everything you need to know ahead of Friday’s baseball action.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros Odds and Betting Lines

Major League Baseball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 11:04 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

  • Favorite: Blue Jays (-120, bet $120 to win $100)
  • Underdog: Astros (+100, bet $100 to win $100)
  • Over/under: 8.5

Deposit $10, GET $200 INSTANTLY: Get action on this game! Place your legal sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook. Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10, get $200 in betting credit instantly. 21+, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Blue Jays Stats and Trends

Blue Jays Betting Records

  • The Blue Jays have entered the game as favorites 13 times this season and won 10, or 76.9%, of those games.
  • Toronto has a record of 9-3 in games where sportsbooks favor them by at least -120 on the moneyline.
  • The implied probability of a win from the Blue Jays, based on the moneyline, is 54.5%.
  • So far this season, Toronto and its opponents have hit the over in six of their 19 games with a total.
  • The Blue Jays are 9-10-0 against the spread this season.

Yusei Kikuchi (Blue Jays Probable Starter)

  • The Blue Jays will send Kikuchi (0-1) to the mound for his fourth start this season.
  • The left-hander gave up two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings pitched on Sunday in his last outing, a matchup with the Houston Astros.
  • The 30-year-old has pitched in three games this season with an ERA of 3.75, a 0.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.750.
  • The Astros rank 21st in MLB with 68 runs scored this season. They have a .204 batting average this campaign with 21 home runs (fourth in the league).
  • The left-hander has allowed the Astros to go 3-for-14 with a double, a home run and two RBI in 3 2/3 innings this season.

Blue Jays Batting Stats

  • The Blue Jays have hit 26 homers to lead Major League Baseball this season.
  • Hitters for the Blue Jays rank fifth in the majors with a combined .407 team slugging percentage.
  • Toronto has a team batting average of .245 this season, which ranks seventh among MLB teams.
  • The Blue Jays have scored the 11th-most runs in the league this season with 80 (four per game).
  • Toronto has an OBP of .304 this season, which ranks 19th in MLB.
  • The Blue Jays rank 17th with an average of 8.4 strikeouts per game.

Astros Stats and Trends

Astros Betting Records

  • The Astros have been underdogs in five games this season and have come away with the win two times (40%) in those contests.
  • This season, Houston has been victorious two times in four chances when named as an underdog of at least +100 or worse on the moneyline.
  • The Astros have an implied victory probability of 50% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
  • Houston and its opponents have gone over the total this season in six of their 19 opportunities.
  • The Astros have posted a record of 7-12-0 against the spread this season.

José Urquidy (Astros Probable Starter)

  • Urquidy (1-1 with a 5.52 ERA and seven strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings pitched) gets the start for the Astros, his fourth of the season.
  • The right-hander last pitched on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, when he tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs while giving up six hits.
  • The 26-year-old has put up an ERA of 5.52, with 4.3 strikeouts per nine innings in three games this season. Opposing hitters have a .305 batting average against him.
  • Urquidy has put together two starts this campaign that he pitched five or more innings.
  • He meets a Blue Jays offense that ranks 11th in the league with 80 total runs scored while batting .245 as a unit. His opponent has a collective .407 slugging percentage (fifth in MLB play) and has hit a total of 26 home runs (first in the league).
  • Urquidy has a 3.18 ERA and a 1.235 WHIP against the Blue Jays this season in 5 2/3 innings pitched, allowing a .286 batting average over one appearance.

Astros Batting Stats

  • The Astros average 1.1 home runs per game to rank fourth in MLB action with 21 total home runs .
  • So far this season, the Astros’ .350 slugging percentage is 17th in the league.
  • Houston’s .204 batting average ranks 28th in the league.
  • The Astros score the 21st-most runs in baseball (68 total, 3.6 per game).
  • Houston is 25th in baseball with a .279 on-base percentage.
  • The Astros strike out 8.1 times per game to rank eighth in baseball.

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Blue Jays vs. Astros: Live Streaming Info & Game Time

  • Game Day: Friday, April 29, 2022
  • Game Time: 7:07 PM ET
  • Stadium: Rogers Centre
  • TV Channel: AT&T Sportsnet Southwest
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers odds, tips and betting trends

The Houston Astros (9-9) will visit the Texas Rangers (6-12), in the final game of a four-game series, Thursday at 2:05 PM ET. The Rangers are an underdog (+144 on the moneyline to win) when they host the Astros (-168). The starting pitchers are …

The Houston Astros (9-9) will visit the Texas Rangers (6-12), in the final game of a four-game series, Thursday at 2:05 PM ET.

The Rangers are an underdog (+144 on the moneyline to win) when they host the Astros (-168). The starting pitchers are Justin Verlander (1-1) for the Houston Astros, and Martin Perez (0-2) for the Texas Rangers.

These squads play again following the Astros’ 4-3 victory over the Rangers yesterday. Cristian Javier (5.0 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 4 K) earned the win for the Astros. Chas McCormick went 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI to lead the team on offense. Brett Martin (0.2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 K) was credited with the loss on the mound for the Rangers.

Here’s what you need to prepare for Thursday’s Astros vs. Rangers matchup.

Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Odds and Betting Lines

Major League Baseball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 5:05 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

  • Favorite: Astros (-168, bet $168 to win $100)
  • Underdog: Rangers (+144, bet $100 to win $144)
  • Over/under: 8

Deposit $10, GET $200 INSTANTLY: Get action on this game! Place your legal sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook. Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10, get $200 in betting credit instantly. 21+, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Astros Stats and Trends

Astros Betting Records

  • The Astros have entered the game as favorites 13 times this season and won seven, or 53.8%, of those games.
  • Houston has played as a favorite of -168 or more once this season and lost that game.
  • The Astros have a 62.7% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
  • Houston’s games have gone over the total in six of their 18 chances.
  • The Astros are 7-11-0 against the spread this season.

Justin Verlander (Astros Probable Starter)

  • The Astros will send Verlander (1-1) to the mound for his fourth start this season.
  • The right-hander’s last start was on Saturday, when he tossed six innings while giving up three earned runs on four hits in a matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
  • The 39-year-old has pitched to a 1.89 ERA this season with 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 1.9 walks per nine across three games.
  • If he completes six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed, he’ll earn his third consecutive quality start.
  • Verlander has three starts in a row of five innings or more.
  • The Rangers rank ninth in MLB with 81 runs scored this season. They have a .226 batting average this campaign with 15 home runs (19th in the league).
  • Among qualified pitchers in the majors this campaign, the 39-year-old ranks 12th in ERA (1.89), third in WHIP (.737), and 14th in K/9 (9.5).

Astros Batting Stats

  • The Astros rank fifth in Major League Baseball with 20 home runs.
  • The offense for the Astros has a slugging percentage of .356 this season, 17th in MLB.
  • Houston has a team batting average of just .209 this season, which ranks 26th among MLB teams.
  • The Astros have scored the 20th-most runs in the league this season with 65 (3.6 per game).
  • Houston has the 23rd-ranked on-base percentage in MLB this season (.285).
  • The Astros are one of the most disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking eighth with an average of 8.2 strikeouts per game.

Rangers Stats and Trends

Rangers Betting Records

  • The Rangers have won in five, or 35.7%, of the 14 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
  • Texas has a win-loss record of 1-2 when favored by +144 or worse by sportsbooks this year.
  • Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Rangers have a 41% chance of pulling out a win.
  • Texas’ games have gone over the total in eight of their 18 opportunities.
  • The Rangers have an against the spread record of 8-10-0 in 18 games with a line this season.

Martín Pérez (Rangers Probable Starter)

  • Perez (0-2) gets the starting nod for the Rangers in his fourth start of the season. He’s put together a 3.86 ERA in 14 innings pitched, with 12 strikeouts.
  • In his most recent time out on Saturday, the left-hander went six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics while surrendering two hits.
  • During three games this season, the 31-year-old has a 3.86 ERA and 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings, while giving up a batting average of .264 to his opponents.
  • Pérez has one quality start under his belt this year.
  • Pérez enters the matchup with one outing of five or more innings pitched this year.
  • He will match up with an Astros team that is hitting .209 as a unit (26th in the MLB). They are also slugging a collective .356 (17th in the league) with 20 total home runs (fifth in MLB action).

Rangers Batting Stats

  • The Rangers rank 19th in MLB action with 15 total home runs.
  • So far this year, the Rangers are 23rd in the league, slugging .341.
  • Texas’ .226 batting average ranks 18th in MLB.
  • The Rangers score the ninth-most runs in baseball (81 total, 4.5 per game).
  • Texas’ .295 on-base percentage is 21st in baseball.
  • The Rangers strike out 7.5 times per game, the fourth-fewest mark in the league.

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Astros vs. Rangers: Live Streaming Info & Game Time

  • Game Day: Thursday, April 28, 2022
  • Game Time: 2:05 PM ET
  • Stadium: Globe Life Field
  • TV Channel: AT&T Sportsnet Southwest
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).

Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers odds, tips and betting trends

The Houston Astros (8-9) will visit the Texas Rangers (6-11), in the third game of a four-game series, Wednesday at 8:05 PM ET. The Astros are favored (-130 moneyline odds) when they visit the Rangers (+111). The Houston Astros will give the start …

The Houston Astros (8-9) will visit the Texas Rangers (6-11), in the third game of a four-game series, Wednesday at 8:05 PM ET.

The Astros are favored (-130 moneyline odds) when they visit the Rangers (+111). The Houston Astros will give the start to Cristian Javier (0-0, 1.80 ERA) looking for win No. 1 on the season, and the Rangers will turn to Glenn Otto (1-0, 1.80).

The Astros defeated the Rangers 5-1 yesterday, with Jake Odorizzi getting the win (6.0 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 4 K) and Kyle Tucker leading the way offensively (going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI). Taylor Hearn (5.0 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 4 K) took the loss for the Rangers.

Here’s what you need to get ready for Wednesday’s Astros vs. Rangers contest.

Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Odds and Betting Lines

Major League Baseball odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Wednesday at 5:07 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

  • Favorite: Astros (-130, bet $130 to win $100)
  • Underdog: Rangers (+111, bet $100 to win $111)
  • Over/under: 8.5

Deposit $10, GET $200 INSTANTLY: Get action on this game! Place your legal sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook. Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10, get $200 in betting credit instantly. 21+, terms and conditions apply. Bet now!

Astros Stats and Trends

Astros Betting Records

  • The Astros have won six, or 50%, of the 12 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
  • Houston has a record of 3-4 in games where bookmakers favor them by at least -130 on the moneyline.
  • The Astros have a 56.5% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
  • So far this season, Houston and its opponents have hit the over in six of their 17 games with a total.
  • The Astros are 7-10-0 ATS in their 17 games with a spread this season.

Cristian Javier (Astros Probable Starter)

  • The Astros will send out Javier for his first start of the season.
  • The 25-year-old right-hander will make his first start after pitching in relief this year.
  • He has pitched to a .00 ERA this season with 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 1.1 walks per nine across three games.
  • The Rangers rank 17th in MLB with a .227 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 22nd in the league (.340) and 14 home runs.

Astros Batting Stats

  • The Astros have hit 19 homers this season, which ranks fifth in the league.
  • The offense for the Astros has a slugging percentage of .358 this season, 16th in MLB.
  • Houston ranks 27th in MLB with a team batting average of just .209.
  • The Astros have scored the 23rd-most runs in the league this season with 61 (3.6 per game).
  • Houston has the 23rd-ranked on-base percentage in MLB this season (.285).
  • The Astros have shown patience at the plate this season with the eighth-best rate of strikeouts per game (8.1) among MLB offenses.

Rangers Stats and Trends

Rangers Betting Records

  • The Rangers have been underdogs in 13 games this season and have come away with the win five times (38.5%) in those contests.
  • This year, Texas has won four of eight games when listed as at least +111 or worse on the moneyline.
  • Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Rangers have a 47.4% chance of pulling out a win.
  • Texas’ games have gone over the total in eight of their 17 opportunities.
  • The Rangers are 7-10-0 against the spread in their 17 games that had a posted line this season.

Glenn Otto (Rangers Probable Starter)

  • Otto (1-0) pitches first for the Rangers to make his second start of the season.
  • His most recent appearance was on Saturday against the Oakland Athletics, when the righty threw five innings, surrendering one earned run while giving up two hits.
  • In one games this season, he has a 1.80 ERA and 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings while opponents are batting .118 against him.
  • He will match up with an Astros offense that is batting .209 as a unit (27th in the MLB). They are also slugging a collective .358 (16th in the league) with 19 total home runs (fifth in MLB play).

Rangers Batting Stats

  • The Rangers rank 17th in MLB action with 14 total home runs.
  • This season, the Rangers rank 22nd in the league with a .340 slugging percentage.
  • Texas has the 17th-ranked batting average in the league (.227).
  • The Rangers are the eighth-highest scoring team in MLB action averaging 4.6 runs per game (78 total).
  • Texas ranks 21st in the league with a .295 on-base percentage.
  • The Rangers strike out 7.5 times per game, the third-fewest average in baseball.

Place your legal, online sports bets in CO and NJ at Tipico Sportsbook now.

Astros vs. Rangers: Live Streaming Info & Game Time

  • Game Day: Wednesday, April 27, 2022
  • Game Time: 8:05 PM ET
  • Stadium: Globe Life Field
  • TV Channel: AT&T Sportsnet Southwest
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).