The Houston Astros are sitting relaxed at the top of the American League West standings, but they can’t be too confident, as a lot can still happen with plenty of games left this season. As for the St. Louis Cardinals, they need every win they can get, as they’re trying to chase the Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central division. The Astros and the Cardinals at -4000 and +260, respectively to win their respective divisions. Will those numbers change after the results of this weekend’s run?
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Game by Game Betting Preview for the Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals Regular-Season Series Running from July 26-28 2019
Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis
When:
Game 1 Thursday, July 26, 8:15 PM EST
Game 2 Friday, July 27, 7:15 PM EST
Game 3 Saturday, July 27, 2:15 PM EST
Line: Houston Astros vs St. Louis Cardinals – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
GAME 1
Starters: Jose Urquidy (1-0, 5.54 ERA) vs. Jack Flaherty (4-6, 4.24 ERA)
Pitching:
Urquidy notched the first MLB win of his career on Jul. 20, when he held the Texas Rangers down to only an earned run on two hits across seven innings of a 6-1 home win. Opponents have hit .296 against Urquidy this season. Flaherty hasn’t won since May 14, but he was decent in his last start, as he took a no-decision after tossing for 4.1 innings and allowing zero earned runs on six hits during a 3-1 win on the road over the Cincinnati Reds on Jul. 21.
Hitting
Paul DeJong is batting .280 with 14 homers on the road thus far this season.
Michael Brantley is 1-for-3 in career vs. Flaherty.
Prediction: Cardinals win, 5-4.
GAME 2
Starters: Gerrit Cole (11-5, 3.03 ERA) vs. Daniel Ponce De Leon (1-0, 2.82 ERA)
Pitching:
Cole got his 11th win of the season in his last start, allowing an earned run on two hits while also striking out 11 hitters in seven innings of an 11-1 win over the Oakland Athletics at home on Jul. 22. Cole is now 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in four starts this month. Ponce De Leon hasn’t spent over 3.2 innings in each of his past two starts. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts this July. Ponce De Leon is 0-0 with a 2.53 ERA in four home starts this year.
Hitting
Michael Brantley is batting .318 on the road this season, as of this writing.
Dexter Fowler is 7-for-31 with two homers in career vs. Cole.
Prediction: Astros win, 4-2.
GAME 3
Starters: Wade Miley (8-4, 3.18 ERA) vs. Dakota Hudson (10-4, 3.61 ERA)
Pitching:
Miley took a no-decision in his last start, which was unfortunate since he held the Oakland Athletics scoreless until the ninth inning. He finished that game with two earned runs on four hits in 8.0 total innings of mound duty that resulted in a 4-3 loss at home for Houston. Miley is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his last five starts. Hudson paces the Cardinals with 10 wins and is 4-1 with a 2.94 ERA in nine starts at home this year.
Hitting
Yuli Gurriel is hitting .294 on the road this season, as of this writing.
Marcell Ozuna is 3-for-6 in career vs. Miley.
Prediction: Cardinals win, 6-4.
Writer’s Overall Series Prediction
Cardinals take two of three games.
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