The Atlanta Braves travel to the Lone Star State to take on the Houston Astros Monday night as they begin a three-game series. Below we will continue our MLB odds series with a Braves-Astros prediction and pick. We will also let you know how to watch the game.
Reynaldo Lopez will get the start for the Braves. Spencer Arrighetti is on the mound for the Astros.
Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Braves-Astros Odds
Atlanta Braves: -1.5 (+128)
Moneyline: -118
Houston Astros: +1.5 (-154)
Moneyline: +100
Over: 9.5 (-110)
Under: 9.5 (-110)
How to Watch Braves vs. Astros
Time: 8:10 PM ET/5:10 PM PT
TV: Bally Sports Southeast, Space City Home Network
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Braves Will Cover The Spread/Win
Lopez has been lights out to begin this season. He is back to being a full-time starter, and it seems to be paying off. Lopez has made two starts, thrown 12 innings, allowed seven hits, one run, and struck out 11. He has been very good this season, and that has to continue in this game. He is great at missing barrels, and the Braves need him to induce a lot of weak contact in this game. If he can keep it up, the Braves will win this game.
The Astros have a rookie on the mound in this game. In his first start, Arrighetti allowed seven runs on seven hits in just three innings of work against the Kansas City Royals. The ball did not leave the yard, but the Royals were hitting the ball around with ease. Now, that could easily be chalked up to first game jitters, and it really should. However, the Braves lineup is very, very good, and they have the ability to do more damage than the Royals.
Why The Astros Will Cover The Spread/Win
Houston is not having the year they have expected to begin the season. The Astros need to turn it around, but it is going to start with their pitching. As a team, the Astros are doing a good job getting hitters off the barrel, but they simply do not throw enough strikes. Houston is a pitch-to-contact team this season, but they are not getting enough hitters to chase in order to do that. They need Arrighetti to be in and around the zone in this game. If he can do that, the Astros will win this game.
Arrighetti had a tough first start, but do not expect a repeat performance. He was very good in the minors, struck out well over nine batters per nine innings, and opposing hitters had a very low average against him. Yes, the MiLB is much different, but Arrighetti's stuff will play at the big league level. With one start under his belt, I am expecting a much better second one.
Final Braves-Astros Prediction & Pick
This is going to be a good game. Both teams are very good, and the Astros will turn it around at any moment now. Houston is not going to stay this bad for long, that is a fact. Looking at the pitching matchup, I have to go with the pitcher with experience. Because of that, I will take the Braves to win this game on the road to open up their three-game series.
Click here for more betting news and predictions
Final Braves-Astros Prediction & Pick: Braves ML (-118)
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