PREMIUM
Rogers' Coach's Clinic - 12-6 L18 MLB Sides
(MLB) Houston vs. Baltimore,
Money Line: -141.00 Baltimore (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -141.00 Baltimore (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Astros and Orioles have traded blowout victories to open this four games series, with Baltimore wining 13-5 on Thursday and Houston returning the favor Friday night, 15-8. The Orioles lead all of MLB with 188 HRs and socked six in Thursday's win. However, five more last night was not enough to earn them a victory, as Baltimore's pitching staff could not hold an early four-run lead, succumbing to Houston's 18 hits, with the Astros scoring in seven of the game's nine innings. The 67-54 Orioles are 1 1/2 back in the AL East but do own the AL's second wild card spot, two games clear of Seattle and 3 1/2 up on Detroit. The Astros are ‘toast' in the AL West and also have three teams between them and the Orioles in the wild card chase, as well as being 5 1/2 games back.
The pitching matchup: Mike Fiers (8-6, 4.66 ERA) takes the mound for Houston, while the Orioles counter with Chris Tillman (15-4, 3.46 ERA). The Astros have lost four of Fiers last six starts and now sit 12-10 (plus-$27) in all of his 2016 starts. Facing a home run hitting team like Baltimore is hardly god news, Fiers has allowed 22 HRs in his 23 appearances (22 starts) this season. It's also troubling that Fiers' road ERA of 6.27 is almost 3 1/2 runs higher than his home ERA (3.36) plus his WHIP (1.61) and .313 batting average against speak volumes as to his road woes. Tillman takes the mound as MLB's biggest "money-earner" among starting pitchers, as Baltimore is 20-5 in his starts, plus-$1553. Tillman had some shoulder discomfort and that was reason enough for the Orioles to keep him from making his scheduled start on Wednesday. However, he reported no issues throwing off flat ground the following day and is ready to go for Saturday.
The pick: Baltimore is 40-20 at home, giving them more home wins that any team other than the Cubs (45-19) and the team's home moneyline mark of plus-$1634 ranks second to only that of the KC Royals (plus-$1783). Throw in the fact that the Orioles are 12-1 in Tillman's 13 home starts in 2016 and why shouldn't Baltimore be an 8* play?
The pitching matchup: Mike Fiers (8-6, 4.66 ERA) takes the mound for Houston, while the Orioles counter with Chris Tillman (15-4, 3.46 ERA). The Astros have lost four of Fiers last six starts and now sit 12-10 (plus-$27) in all of his 2016 starts. Facing a home run hitting team like Baltimore is hardly god news, Fiers has allowed 22 HRs in his 23 appearances (22 starts) this season. It's also troubling that Fiers' road ERA of 6.27 is almost 3 1/2 runs higher than his home ERA (3.36) plus his WHIP (1.61) and .313 batting average against speak volumes as to his road woes. Tillman takes the mound as MLB's biggest "money-earner" among starting pitchers, as Baltimore is 20-5 in his starts, plus-$1553. Tillman had some shoulder discomfort and that was reason enough for the Orioles to keep him from making his scheduled start on Wednesday. However, he reported no issues throwing off flat ground the following day and is ready to go for Saturday.
The pick: Baltimore is 40-20 at home, giving them more home wins that any team other than the Cubs (45-19) and the team's home moneyline mark of plus-$1634 ranks second to only that of the KC Royals (plus-$1783). Throw in the fact that the Orioles are 12-1 in Tillman's 13 home starts in 2016 and why shouldn't Baltimore be an 8* play?
