Once we reach this stage of the MLB season, which is very close to the halfway point, it’s fun to start thinking about the potential playoff series that might happen later in the year. It is, of course, too early to start having a serious discussion about those potential playoff series, as there is still a tone of baseball to be played before all the division winners and Wild Card players have been decided. Still, there are a few teams who certainly look to be destined to make the postseason, although every one of those teams will be well aware that a poor second half can undo all the good work that has been done to this point in the season.
Two of the best teams in the American League, the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, will be hooking up for a 4-game series this weekend, with the opening game set for Thursday night with the home side as MLB Betting favorites. The Yankees will be looking to stay hot, while the Astros will be trying to break out of a mini-slump.
Astros vs Yankees MLB Week 12 Betting Odds & Prediction
- When: Thursday, June 20 at 7:05 PM EST
- Where: Yankee Stadium, NYC
- Starting Pitchers: Valdez vs. Green
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Radio: WFAN
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Week 12 Betting Odds: New York Yankees -135 (Total 10)
Indians vs Rangers MLB Lines, Preview & Expert Pick
Why bet on the Houston Astros?
It has not been a particularly good week for the Houston Astros, who have now dropped 4 straight games, including a totally unexpected 3-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Cincinnati Reds. That sweep was not the way they would have wanted to start this road swing, with their record on the road dropping to 21-16 SU with those 3 losses.
This is a slump that will likely not go on much longer, with Houston hoping for an outcome similar to the one they got in the earlier meeting with the Yankees this season, where the Astros won all 3 games. One the road, Houston are 17-18 ATS this year. They will have Framber Valdez (3-2, 2.77 ERA) on the mound for this one.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.12
- Hits: 8.96
- Walks: 3.83
- Strike Outs: 6.93
- Runs: 3.80
- Hits: 7.09
- Walks: 2.72
- Strike Outs: 10.07
Why bet on the New York Yankees?
While the Astros may be in the middle of a slump, the same cannot be said for the New York Yankees. They come into this series on a real high after sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays in 3 games to extend their winning streak to 5 games. Perhaps more importantly, that series sweep has allowed the Yankees to open up a 3 ½ game lead on the Rays at the top of the AL East.
That winning run has also helped the Yankees improve their home record to a very impressive 25-13, and while they lost all 3 previous meetings with the Astros this season, those defeats all came on the road. Against the spread, the Yankees are also 25-13 ATS, same as their SU record. They will have Chad Green (1-2, 7.54 ERA) on the mound for this one.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.48
- Hits: 8.79
- Walks: 3.71
- Strike Outs: 8.66
- Runs: 4.26
- Hits: 8.00
- Walks: 3.01
- Strike Outs: 9.37
Astros vs Yankees MLB Week 12 Betting Trends
- Astros are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
- The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Houston’s last 20 games against an opponent in the American League East division
- Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home
- Yankees are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
- 2 of 3 games in this series have gone Over the Total this season
- Yankees are 19-9 against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season
- Astros are 134-75 against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons
- Astros are 3-0 against Yankees this season
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Astros vs Yankees
Given how the Houston Astros have played this season, it’s tough to imagine their current losing streak continuing for very much longer. I think they might actually be able to break out of it on Thursday night with a road win over the Yankees.
Score: Houston Astros 5 – New York Yankees 3
