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Pirates vs Astros Predictions and Betting Tips for July 29, 2024

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Third place in the National Central League Pittsburgh Pirates (52-52, 3rd NL Central) opens a three-game interleague series at Minute Maid Park Monday by visiting the American League West leader Houston Astros (55-49, 1st AL West). Pittsburgh was defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-5 on Saturday and has lost two straight, the Pirates will close out a three-game series with Arizona on Sunday. Pittsburgh is seven games behind first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central. Houston beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 on Saturday. The Astros have won two straight against Los Angeles and three straight overall. Houston leads the American League West by one game over Seattle. Pittsburgh will play without six pitchers and catcher Endy Rodriguez. Houston will play without 10 pitchers and right fielder Kyle Tucker.

This article was written before these two played on Sunday.

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Pittsburgh struggles at the plate, but is better on the mound

Pittsburgh is 23rd in runs scored (430), 25th in batting average (.232) and 27th in on-base percentage (.299) and slugging percentage (.369). Bryan Reynolds has been Pittsburgh’s leading hitter and leads the Pirates in home runs (18), RBIs (61), hits (117), on-base percentage (.353) and batting average (.288). Reynolds has been battling a sore back but is expected to play Monday. Oneil Cruz is second in home runs with 16 and RBIs with 52. Pittsburgh has hit 147 doubles, 12 triples and 103 homers on 262 extra-base hits in 104 games.

Pittsburgh is 4th in quality starts (49), 11th in ERA (3.83), 19th in WHIP (1.28) and 21st in batting average (.247). Mitch Keller leads Pittsburgh in wins with 10, strikeouts with 108 and ERA for starting pitchers with 3.34. Pittsburgh rookie sensation Paul Skenes will be the starting pitcher on Monday. The rookie flamethrower is 6-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 97 strikeouts.

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Houston is tough to control at the plate and is improving every week on the mound

The Astros are second in batting average (.263), seventh in slugging percentage (.420), ninth in on-base percentage (.321) and 11th in runs scored (490). Yordan Alvarez leads Houston in home runs with 20 while Yainer Diaz leads Houston in RBI with 55. Kyle Tucker is second in home runs with 19 but is injured, while two others have 14 home runs each. Houston has seven players with 40-55 RBI. Houston has hit 177 doubles, 13 triples and 120 home runs on 310 extra-base hits in 104 games.

Houston is sixth in quality starts (45), 12th in batting average allowed (.237), 15th in ERA (4.00) and 20th in WHIP (1.29). Ronel Blanco leads the Astros in wins with nine and a 2.95 ERA for starters. Hunter Brown leads the Astros in strikeouts with 118. Jake Bloss will start Monday for Houston. The right-hander is 0-1 this season with a 6.94 ERA and 11 strikeouts.

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Best Bets for Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Houston Astros

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Pittsburgh has won 10 of its last 15 games overall. Statistically, Houston is a much stronger team than Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh will have its new sensation on the mound Monday. Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes is off to an impressive start to the season, going 6-1 with a 1.93 ERA. Skenes had eight strikeouts in his last start, despite a 2-1 loss to St. Louis. The right-hander has double-digit strikeouts in two starts this season and has eight or more strikeouts in nine of his 12 starts. Pittsburgh has won eight of Skenes’ 12 starts this season. Houston starting pitcher Jake Bloss has made just three career starts and was badly shaken last time out by Oakland, allowing five runs in 4 innings and in just 11.2 career innings on the mound, he has a 6.94 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Pirates ML

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While Houston starting pitcher Jake Bloss has a very high ERA (6.94), Pittsburgh starting pitcher Paul Skenes has an impressive ERA (1.93). The total has been below average in six of Pittsburgh’s last seven games and in four of Pittsburgh’s last six games away from home. The total has been below average in six of Skenes’ last eight starts for the Pirates.

Prediction: UNDER

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Kevin Vallego, “Kevin V.”

Kevin grew up in a family where sports were king. Every afternoon was spent watching whatever sport was on TV. After years of watching sports, he was introduced to the world of betting, and soon stats, trends, and odds became his best friends. Today, nearly 20 years later, his life revolves around sports, writing about them, and betting on them. We are happy to have Kevin on our Winners & Whiners and StatSalt teams and you should be happy that we have him too.

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