Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Amazon gift card

Top 5 winners

Overview:

On Sunday, July 30th, the (67-34) Houston Astros will be on the road to take on the (45-55) Detroit Tigers.

The Crowd:

“The Crowd” projects a final score of Astros 6.0 – Tigers 3.0 with an over/under of 9.0.

Starting Pitchers:

HOU: Lance McCullers (7-2, 3.67) vs DET: Justin Verlander (5-7, 4.50)

Batting Stats:

Runs per game: Astros 5.93 (1^st) > Tigers 4.80 (11^th)

Batting Average: Astros .292 (1^st) > Tigers .259 (10^th)

On Base Percentage: Astros .356 (1^st) > Tigers .331 (8^th)

Total Bases: Astros 1771 (1^st) > Tigers 1471 (15^th)

Baserunning Stats:

Stolen Bases: Astros 62 (7^th) > Tigers 38 (24^th)

Pitching Stats:

Team Earned Run Average: Astros 4.04 (8^th) > Tigers 4.96 (28^th)

Batting Average Against: Astros .235 (2^nd) > Tigers .271 (26^th)

Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched: Astros 1.24 (4^th) > Tigers 1.44 (27^th)

Strikeouts: Astros 1032 (1^st) > Tigers 753 (27^th)

Saves: Astros 27 (9^th) > Tigers 21 (21^st)

Fielding Stats:

Errors: Tigers 53 (10^th) > Astros 62 (22^nd)

Summary:

The Astros enter the game leading in the league in runs per game (5.93) and 8^th in team earned run average (4.04).  Detroit ranks 11^th in runs per game (4.80) and 28^th in team ERA (4.96).  The Astros are (6-4) in their last ten games while the Tigers are (4-6).  Houston is (3-1) head to head against Detroit this season outscoring them 17-14 in those games.  The Astros will be without their star shortstop Carlos Correa who recently suffered a UCL injury.  Houston starter Lance McCullers (7-2, 3.67) has held Tigers hitters to a combined .192 average.  McCullers (4-0, 2.87) has been excellent at home this season but is winless in his last four starts.

Detroit will start Justin Verlander (5-7, 4.50) but it remains to be seen if he will remain with the club with the trade deadline looming.  The Astros are hitting a combined .253 against Verlander.  Verlander has pitched very poorly on the road (2-5, 5.32) this season and Detroit has lost each of his last five starts.  The Tigers middle of the order is certainly weaker following the trade of J.D. Martinez.  Houston is an MLB best (37-13 on the road this year whereas Detroit is (25-24) at home.  Both starters are struggling so I don’t expect them to pitch deep into the game.  Houston has a huge advantage with their bullpen and should win this game.

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