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The Baltimore Orioles take on the Houston Astros. Check out our MLB odds series for our Orioles-Astros prediction and pick.
The Baltimore Orioles sent a strong message to the New York Yankees and the rest of Major League Baseball. They went into the Bronx and won two of three games from the Yankees in a battle of the two best teams in the American League. The Yankees were the pace-setters in the A.L., but the Orioles stood up to them on the road and tightened the East Division race. It’s easy to fall in love with the Yankees’ superstars, including Gerrit Cole — who is now back in the rotation after his recuperation from injury — but the Orioles displayed their depth and versatility in their series win in New York. No one should anoint the Yankees as the clear-cut favorite in the East. Slight favorite? That’s fair. The Orioles, however, look like a team that will — at the very least — push the Yankees into the last week of the regular season. They might even win the East themselves.
Taking advantage of the Houston Astros’ pitching injuries will help the Orioles in their push for the East title. Houston has watched one starter after another get sent to the injury list. Lance McCullers, Jose Urquidy, Cristian Javier — the Astros have been beaten up at the most important position in baseball. Their offense hasn’t been able to compensate for the starting rotation’s injury-based limitations, and that’s why Houston is several games under .500 and eight games behind the Seattle Mariners in the American League West.
Before the season began, this Baltimore-Houston series figured to be a prime showdown in the American League, given Houston’s track record as the most consistently successful team in the A.L. since 2017 (two World Series titles, four World Series appearances, seven straight ALCS appearances). Baltimore has been as advertised in 2024, on the heels of a 2023 season in which it hit the 100-win plateau. Houston, however, has been a huge disappointment even with the pitching injuries factored in. Because Houston is so weak, the Orioles need to pounce on the Astros if they are to overtake the Yankees in the next three and a half months.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Orioles-Astros MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Orioles-Astros Odds
Baltimore Orioles: +1.5 (+100)
Houston Astros: -1.5 (-120)
Over: 8.5 (-110)
Under: 8.5 (-110)
How to Watch Orioles vs Astros
TV: MASN (Orioles) / Space City Home Network (Astros) / MLB Extra Innings
Stream: MLB.TV
Article Continues Below
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET / 5:10 p.m. PT
*Watch Orioles-Astros LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*
Why The Orioles Could Cover the Spread
The Orioles just hammered the Yankees 17-5 on Thursday. They averaged 12 runs in their last two games against Yankee pitching. This is a confident team which is swinging the bat really well. Beating the Yankees has to give Baltimore enormous added belief that it can rise to the top of the American League and put itself in prime position to compete for the World Series. Houston’s pitching staff has been hollowed out, such that the Orioles’ hot hitters should be able to feast on the Astros’ weakened rotation in this game. There are many details of this game which set up well for the O’s.
Why The Astros Could Cover the Spread
The Astros scored a comeback win over the White Sox on Thursday. Houston did not play great baseball in Chicago, but it was able to win the series despite struggling. That might give this team the jolt it needs to perform better, reach the .500 mark by the All-Star break, and then make a serious run at the playoffs in the second half of the season. There is still plenty of talent on this team, so even though the difference in records between these teams is substantial, one shouldn’t assume the Orioles will just waltz over the Astros. Houston is going to be a problem for good opponents in the remainder of the season.
Final Orioles-Astros Prediction & Pick
The Orioles are better than the Astros. It’s as simple as that. Take the O’s.
Final Orioles-Astros Prediction & Pick: Orioles +1.5 (+100)
