PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* Saturday Afternoon ASSAULT >> 28-12 L40 MLB!
(MLB) Cleveland vs. Houston,
Money Line: 116.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: 116.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Indians took the opener of this three-game series last night, 5-3. Jason Kipnis hit his third HR and knocked in his seventh run during a five-game hitting streak, as he's beginning to find some rhythm at the plate after starting the season on the DL with a shoulder injury. The Astros (29-13) coughed up an early two-run lead Friday, as they saw their four-game winning streak come to an end. However, it was just Houston's second loss in its last 11 games, and at 29-13, the Astros still own MLB's best record. The Indians are defending AL champs but check in at a modest 21-19, although they are only one game out of first in the AL Central.
The pitching matchup: Mike Clevinger (1-1 & 2.61 ERA) will get the nod for the Indians in Saturday afternoon's game, opposed by Houston's Mike Fiers (1-1 & 5.75 ERA). Clevinger made 17 appearances last season (10 starts) and posted a 5.39 ERA. His 2017 debut was on May 7th at KC, when he pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-hit ball against the Royals in a 1-0 victory. Clevinger struggled in his last start on May 13, giving up three runs on three hits and five walks over just 4 1/3 innings to take a 4-1 home loss to Minnesota last Saturday. He was used to retired one batter in relief Tuesday against the Rays. Clevinger allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings of a loss to Houston in 2016. Fiers may have just one win on the season but he is unbeaten in the last six starts. Then again, he has managed just one victory and completed six innings only once during that stretch, although the Astros are 4-2. Fiers is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in three career starts vs. the Indians (teams are 2-1).
The pick:The Astros are a ML-best 29-13 but after Friday's loss, are just 1-3 in 2017 against the Indians. Fiers gave up two runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision versus the Indians back on April 27, a game Cleveland won 4-3. Note that Fiers has allowed a major league-high 16 HRs in his seven 2017 outings. Let's also not forget that Cleveland won 94 games in 2017 and led the Cubs 3-1 in the World Series before losing in heart-breaking fashion in Game 7, while the Astros watched last year's postseason on TV. Make the Indians a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Mike Clevinger (1-1 & 2.61 ERA) will get the nod for the Indians in Saturday afternoon's game, opposed by Houston's Mike Fiers (1-1 & 5.75 ERA). Clevinger made 17 appearances last season (10 starts) and posted a 5.39 ERA. His 2017 debut was on May 7th at KC, when he pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-hit ball against the Royals in a 1-0 victory. Clevinger struggled in his last start on May 13, giving up three runs on three hits and five walks over just 4 1/3 innings to take a 4-1 home loss to Minnesota last Saturday. He was used to retired one batter in relief Tuesday against the Rays. Clevinger allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings of a loss to Houston in 2016. Fiers may have just one win on the season but he is unbeaten in the last six starts. Then again, he has managed just one victory and completed six innings only once during that stretch, although the Astros are 4-2. Fiers is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in three career starts vs. the Indians (teams are 2-1).
The pick:The Astros are a ML-best 29-13 but after Friday's loss, are just 1-3 in 2017 against the Indians. Fiers gave up two runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision versus the Indians back on April 27, a game Cleveland won 4-3. Note that Fiers has allowed a major league-high 16 HRs in his seven 2017 outings. Let's also not forget that Cleveland won 94 games in 2017 and led the Cubs 3-1 in the World Series before losing in heart-breaking fashion in Game 7, while the Astros watched last year's postseason on TV. Make the Indians a 10* play.
