
Friday 7/18/19 Picks & Results:
Indians Over 5.5 Runs (-145) = WIN (+1.0 units)*
*Pick was given out during Friday’s on-air edition of “From the Betting Window” on 101 ESPN.
Saturday 7/20/19 Picks:
925 Texas Rangers at 926 Houston Astros, 6:10 p.m. CT
The last time the Astros saw Rangers right-hander Ariel Jurado was last Sunday. They scored five runs on seven hits and drew four walks in just four innings. Houston wound up scoring 12 runs in that contest.
Jurado enters Saturday’s action with a putrid 13.2% strikeout rate at the major league level. He’s a ground ball pitcher and there will be times when ground ball artists will limit scoring. That said, calling Jurado an “artist” is a massive stretch. The Astros projected lineup owns a .213 ISO against right-handed pitching this season and don’t strike out. Jurado is in trouble.
Houston hit back-to-back home runs last night off Mike Minor, who is a much better pitcher having a much better season than Jurado. The Astros’ lineup is quickly getting back to full strength and the quartet of Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Yuli Gurriel have excellent numbers against right-handed pitching. Of course, Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley have also mashed righties this season, too.
The Pick: Astros Over 5.5 Runs (-130) = Risking 1.30 units to win 1.0 units
2019 Betting Results:
MLB First Half: 59-50-4 (+2.55 units)
MLB Second Half: 7-6-1 (0.0 units)
NHL Playoffs: 2-0 (+2.0 units)