The Baltimore Orioles host the Houston Astros in the opening match of their mini-series. With the end of the regular season fast approaching, every result is now as important as ever. In our latest MLB betting picks we tell you who will come out on top in this American League showdown.
The clash is the first fixture of a four-match mini-series held at Orioles Park in Baltimore.
When the two franchises met in a min-series in June, the Astros swept the three matches at Minute Maid Park by an aggregate score of 27-13.
The breakdown of the rout was 14-11, 5-1, and 8-1.
Baltimore is involved in a two-way battle with the New York Yankees at the top of the AL East. Every result is now important. Even dead rubbers in mini-series have to be won as the Baltimores look to defend the title they won for the first time in nine years in 2023.
In the latest betting to top the AL East, the Orioles are +110 second-favorite. The New York Yankees are -130 to win the division for the first time since 2022, and second time since 2019.
As for the Houston Astros, they are five wins clear of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.
In the betting to win the division, the Astros are -1200, with the Mariners at +550. The sportsbooks suggest it’s now simply a two-horse race as the Texas Rangers are out at +12500.
In their match against the NY Mets on Wednesday, the Orioles went into the deciding showdown at Citi Field as the +125 outsiders. The Astros were -140 favorites to beat the Boston Red Sox in their decider at Minute Maid Park.
The venues are now switched with Baltimore holding the home-field advantage tonight, and the Astros on the road.
As a result, to win the opening match the Orioles are odds on favorite at -165 on the money line. To win on the road for a ninth consecutive match the Astros are +140.
On the run line, the Astros are receiving a +1.5-run start. To win with the handicap in their favor Houston is -150. To win and cover the 1.5-run spread, the Orioles are +125.
On the total runs line, both over and under is -110.
Our odds are taken from the best MLB World Series betting sites. More betting options for the Orioles vs. Astros match can be found on our baseball odds table.
| Orioles vs. Astros |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orioles | -165 | -165 | -165 |
| Astros | +140 | +140 | +140 |
| Orioles (-1.5) | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| Astros (+1.5) | -150 | -150 | -150 |
| Over 8.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 8.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
The Baltimore Orioles have just lost a three-match mini-series 2-1 to the New York Mets.
The series was on the road, with the Orioles losing the decider on Wednesday night thanks to a Jesse Winker 9th innings walk-off home run.
The loss, along with the Yankees’ 8-1 win over the Guardians, means the Orioles are now second in the AL East division.
In their last ten, the Orioles are 4-6. Overall, they are 74-54 this season.
The Houston Astros also lost the decider in their three-match mini-series. Joe Espada’s side went down 4-1 at home to the Boston Red Sox.
The Astros won the opening match 5-4 at Minute Maid Park. The Red Sox leveled the series with a 6-5 win in match two.
Alex Cora’s team then completed the comeback winning the decider in convincing style on Wednesday night.
In their last ten matches, the Astros have a 7-3 record. They have lost two of those three in their two most recent fixtures.
Overall this season the Astros are 68-58. They sit top of the AL West with a five-game lead over their closest rivals, the Seattle Mariners.
The Astros also hold a ten-game lead over last year’s World Series winners the Texas Rangers.
Two of the three games between the two franchises finished over 8.5 in the mini-series played at Minute Maid Park in June.
The top-rated MLB betting sites can’t separate the spread and are going -110 over and under.
Three of Baltimore’s last eight home ties have been over 8.5 with five under. Four of Houston’s last eight matches on the road have been over 8.5.
It is a tight call. But given Houston’s three most recent road trips have all been under, we are going with under 8.5 for our total points betting pick.
Onto the match winner and the form and the odds are both suggesting we need to be considering backing the Astros.
Houston is 33-29 on the road. But more significantly, they’ve won their last eight, sweeping the Red Sox and the Rays in their two most recent series on the road.
Baltimore is 37-28 at home. They are 6-4 at home in their last ten and 3-2 in their most recent five.
Neither franchise comes into this fixture in red-hot form. So based on the evidence of recent matches and given the decent value odds for another road-trip win for Joe Espada’s franchise, a win for the Houston Astros is our MLB betting pick.
Check below for our list of the Top-Rated Sportsbooks for Online Sports Betting:
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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