PREMIUM
Rogers' ROUND TRIPPER >> 4-0 Thursday SWEEP! 26-14-3 MLB Run!
(MLB) Houston vs. Detroit,
Money Line: -172.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -172.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Houston Astros visit Detroit for a three-game weekend series with the Tigers, beginning Friday night. Houston comes to town with MLB's biggest division lead (17 games), it's second-best overall record at 67-34 (only the Dodgers are better at 71-31) and a ML-best 37-13 road record. More good news comes in that the Astros have their ace back to start the opener of the series. The Tigers, who everyone assumes will be 'selling' come July 31, checks in at 45-55 on the season, better than only the 44-59 A's and 39-60 White Sox in the American League.
The pitching matchup: Dallas Keuchel will make his first start since June 2 for Houston and will take a 9-0 mark with a 1.67 ERA into this contest against Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann (6-8 & 5.81 ERA). Keuchel was enjoying a Cy Young-worthy season before he was sidelined because of a pinched nerve in his neck. "It feels a little weird to actually have my name penciled in for a major league start; I've been looking forward to this for a while," Keuchel told the Houston Chronicle. "The excitement's really building. I didn't want to let myself get too excited, but at the same time I feel great with how I've progressed and what I've done in the two (rehab) starts. It's go time." Keuchel is 3-1 with a 4.30 ERA in five career starts against Detroit (team is 4-1). Zimmermann's season runs parallel to his team's inconsistent ways. He followed up one of his best outings of the year, a win at Kansas City, by allowing five runs on nine hits with four walks in 3 2/3 innings during a loss to Minnesota his last start. To go along with his 5.81 ERA, he owns a 1.56 WHIP and .308 BAA! He's 2-3 with a 2.96 ERA in six career starts against the Astros (teams are 3-3).
The pick: Keuchel is unlikely to go deep into the game (he threw 62 pitches in his last rehab start at Class A Tri-City) but Houston's 37-13 road record plus the Astros' 10-1 record in Keuchel's 2017 starts so far, are tough too ignore. So are Zimmermann's awful numbers this season and Detroit's seemingly 'ho-hum' attitude. Make Houston an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Dallas Keuchel will make his first start since June 2 for Houston and will take a 9-0 mark with a 1.67 ERA into this contest against Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann (6-8 & 5.81 ERA). Keuchel was enjoying a Cy Young-worthy season before he was sidelined because of a pinched nerve in his neck. "It feels a little weird to actually have my name penciled in for a major league start; I've been looking forward to this for a while," Keuchel told the Houston Chronicle. "The excitement's really building. I didn't want to let myself get too excited, but at the same time I feel great with how I've progressed and what I've done in the two (rehab) starts. It's go time." Keuchel is 3-1 with a 4.30 ERA in five career starts against Detroit (team is 4-1). Zimmermann's season runs parallel to his team's inconsistent ways. He followed up one of his best outings of the year, a win at Kansas City, by allowing five runs on nine hits with four walks in 3 2/3 innings during a loss to Minnesota his last start. To go along with his 5.81 ERA, he owns a 1.56 WHIP and .308 BAA! He's 2-3 with a 2.96 ERA in six career starts against the Astros (teams are 3-3).
The pick: Keuchel is unlikely to go deep into the game (he threw 62 pitches in his last rehab start at Class A Tri-City) but Houston's 37-13 road record plus the Astros' 10-1 record in Keuchel's 2017 starts so far, are tough too ignore. So are Zimmermann's awful numbers this season and Detroit's seemingly 'ho-hum' attitude. Make Houston an 8* play.
