Prizing:

1st Place: $25 Amazon gift card

2nd-5th Place: $10 Starbucks gift card

Overview:

On Sunday May 28th, the (25-20) Baltimore Orioles will be on the road to take on the (31-16) Houston Astros.

The Crowd:

“The Crowd” projects a final score of Astros 5.1 – Orioles 3.7 with an over/under of 8.9.

Starting Pitchers:

BAL: Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 7.17) vs HOU: Lance McCullers (5-1, 2.43)

Batting Stats:

Runs per game: Astros 4.89 (10^th) > Orioles 4.60 (15^th)

Batting Average: Astros .265 (8^th) > Orioles .254 (13^th)

On Base Percentage: Astros .334 (8^th) > Orioles .314 (24^th)

Total Bases: Astros 699 (8^th) > Orioles 676 (9^th)

Baserunning Stats:

Stolen Bases: Astros 22 (16^th) > Orioles 12 (27^th)

Pitching Stats:

Team Earned Run Average: Astros 3.43 (3^rd) > Orioles 4.27 (18^th)

Batting Average Against: Astros .225 (1^st) > Orioles .268 (27^th)

Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched: Astros 1.18 (1^st) > Orioles 1.46 (29^th)

Strikeouts: Astros 463 (1^st) > Orioles 335 (25^th)

Saves: Orioles 16 (2^nd) > Astros 15 (4^th)

Fielding Stats:

Errors: Orioles 25 (11^th) > Astros 32 (20^th)

Summary:

The Astros enter the game 10^th in the league in runs per game (4.89) and 3^rd in team earned run average (3.43).  Baltimore ranks 15^th in runs per game (4.60) and 18^th in team ERA (4.27).  These two teams have yet to play each other this season but Houston was (6-1) against Baltimore a year ago.  Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 7.17) has been awful this season while Astros starter Lance McCullers (5-1, 2.43) has been one of the better starters in the American League.  The Astros have dominated against Jimenez batting a combined .336 off him.  Carlos Beltran is a player to watch hitting .360 with 3 homers off Jimenez in 25 at-bats.  Lance McCullers has pitched very well against Baltimore holding their hitters to a .119 average against.  The Astros are (16-10 at home this season while the Orioles are (10-13) on the road.  I expect Houston to score early and often off Jimenez and win in blowout fashion.

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