The set-up: The Astros opened the week by winning their 11th straight game, a 7-3 Monday win at Kansas City. However, as the Astros and Royals conclude this four-game series Thursday night, Houston is looking to avoid matching the team's worst skid of the 2017 season by losing a third straight contest. Houston lost 7-5 on Wednesday, after losing 9-7 on Tuesday. The Royals have now produced 16 runs (on 25 hits) in the back-to-back victories, moving to 26-32 on the season.

The pitching matchup: Lance McCullers (6-1 & 2.71 ERA) gets the nod for Houston and Jason Hammel (2-6, 5.93 ERA). McCullers took a no-decision against Texas in his last outing, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits (he did strike out eight in 4 1/3 innings and Houston won, 6-5). However, McCullers had won four consecutive starts before that. He's made three career starts against KC, going 1-0 with a 2.66 ERA (team is 2-1). Hammel halted a four-start winless streak by holding Cleveland to three runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings on Saturday in getting the victory (just his second of 2017) in a 12-5 KC win. Hammel is 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts / teams are 3-4) against the Astros.

The pick: McCullers was far from sharp in his last outing but McCullers was the American League pitcher of the month for May, when he finished 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA (Astros went 5-1 in his six starts). On the season, the Astros are 10-2 (plus-$784) in McCullers starts, the fourth-best moneyline mark among starters. In stark contrast, the Royals are 2-9 in starts made by Hammel. going minus-$638 against the moneyline, ranking him 226th among 232 starters in 2017. Make Houston an 8* play.