The end of the MLB regular season is fast approaching and the Houston Astros are in a face-off with the Cleveland Guardians in the opening game of the series that will be played at Progressive Field on Friday. This is even more compelling since both teams are jockeying, and, as the situation stands, this is no longer a game but a preview of a playoff series between the two teams. The action will be shown live on MLBN, ESPN and MLB.TV at 7:10 PM ET. When it comes to sports betting and more particularly MLB daily free picks, this game might offer interesting choices as the Astros are trying to recover and the Guardians are safe at ‘their’ court.
Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Guardians 9/27/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Friday, September 27, 2024, at 7:10 PM ET |
| Where: | Progressive Field |
| Watch: | MLBN, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Astros odds: | -122 Moneyline |
| Guardians odds: | +103 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 7.5 |
Houston Astros (86-73) vs. Cleveland Guardians (92-67)
The Houston Astros, boasting a .261 batting average and a robust slugging percentage, come into this series with high stakes. Their last five games showed mixed results. On September 25, they faced a tough loss against the Mariners with a score of 1-8, reflecting the volatility in their recent performance. However, a closer win on September 24 by 4-3 and a significant victory on September 21 over the Angels, scoring 10-4, depict their capability to bounce back. This resilience is critical as they navigate through their remaining schedule.
| Houston Astros Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 25, 2024 | SEA | 1-8 | Lose |
| Sep 24, 2024 | SEA | 4-3 | Win |
| Sep 23, 2024 | SEA | 1-6 | Lose |
| Sep 22, 2024 | LAA | 8-9 | Lose |
| Sep 21, 2024 | LAA | 10-4 | Win |
The Cleveland Guardians counter with a solid home record and a batting line that, while lower than the Astros at .238, still carries the punch necessary to win games. Their recent outings include a commanding 5-2 victory against the Reds on September 25 and another 6-1 triumph the day before. These performances, particularly their strong showings at home where they are 7-1 in their last 8 games, position them as formidable hosts for the Astros.
| Cleveland Guardians Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 25, 2024 | CIN | 5-2 | Win |
| Sep 24, 2024 | CIN | 6-1 | Win |
| Sep 22, 2024 | STL | 1-2 | Lose |
| Sep 21, 2024 | STL | 5-6 | Lose |
| Sep 20, 2024 | STL | 5-1 | Win |
Ronel Blanco (12-6, 2.88 ERA) vs. Joey Cantillo (2-3, 4.63 ERA)
Ronal Blanco is another of the Astros’ starting pitchers who has been pitching with a 2.88 earned run average and a 1.1 WHIP over the course of 162.1 innings. The most important reason he was able to win 12 times during the season was that he managed his strikeouts against the number of walks and home runs given up. His performance will be very much needed, considering that he will be up against a Guardians batting order that does not spare mistakes from any pitcher.
On the other hand, Guardians’ Joey Cantillo has been lesser this year, spending only 35 innings, but seems to have potential, as his earned run average is 4.63. Although his earned run average and WHIP are worse when playing in home games, it is possible that his home games played in front of supportive home fans will work to his advantage. The concern he will have is how to deal with the strong line up of the Astros and how to keep the game in the balance.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Houston Astros -122, Total Odds: 7.5
While the current betting odds tilt slightly in favor of the Astros, it is clear that both teams possess the capabilities to win. Looking at the pitching duel and the other team’s recent form, the bettors are likely to look at the over on the total line, especially with the Astors and the Guardians being good offensively and defensively, respectively.
Houston Astros Betting Trends
The Astros boast a strong OVER pattern with 4 of their last 6 games going above the total; this sort of performance from them is expected. On the contrary, they have not fared well in away matches under 6 of their last 7, with only 1 over this period. These two sets of statistics exhibit a more detailed approach to the points total in this match for the punters.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Trends
The Guardians have been able to hold their fort, thus pushing the UNDER in five out of their last six games in this perpendicular. And as for their recent trends in home games, they have managed a 7-1 SU record, which suggests their dominance at Progressive Field making them a very difficult team to beat in their territory.
Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Guardians 9/27/24 Betting Picks
Taking the analysis of the matchups and recent events into account, Ronel Blanco’s Rangers are predicted to win by a narrow margin. They are up against Joey Cantillo, who, although comparatively inexperienced, has shown good potential. So, even with all the road game challenges, they are a good bet.
For those that want to make a bet with high potential, it might be worth placing an OVER on the total points, considering the Astros’ offensive stats against the Guardians’ recent trend in scoring at home. An exclusive sports pick would be backing the Astros to win by a certain margin. The potential for the innings to go high-scoring also provides options for these players to hit home runs, which could be ideal for prop bets.