Astros vs. Cardinals Friday Prediction
The Cardinals have won five straight games and eight of their last 10 overall but will receive a stiff test this weekend when they host the Astros for three games. Is tonight’s matchup at 8:15 p.m. ET an opportunity for bettors to cash on the over?
Game Snapshot & Odds
929 Houston Astros (-110) at 930 St. Louis Cardinals (-110); 9 runs
Friday, July 26, 2019
8:15 p.m. ET, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
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Public Betting Trends
According to our MLB Public Betting Chart page, 61% of the betting tickets are on the Cardinals to beat the Astros on the moneyline.
Houston Astros Fantasy Spin
Jose Altuve starred with three hits including his 15th homer Wednesday as the Astros held on for a 4-2 win over the A’s. The former AL MVP finished a triple shy of the cycle in Wednesday’s victory. His home run, a two-run blast in the fifth off right-hander Chris Bassitt, traveled an estimated 428 feet before coming to rest in the center-field seats. After laboring through an injury-riddled first half, Altuve has been taking out his frustration on AL pitching, surging to a .379 average with five homers and 13 RBI over 58 second-half at-bats. He’s lifted his season average from a pedestrian .262 to a much more respectable .287 during that span.
St. Louis Cardinals Fantasy Spin
Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk to propel the Cardinals to a 6-3 victory on Thursday and complete a pivotal four-game series sweep against the division-rival Pirates. Goldschmidt stayed red-hot, launching a solo homer to center field — his 22nd round-tripper of the season — off Pirates starter Joe Musgrove in the fourth inning. He also singled in the first inning and walked in the fifth, reaching base safely in three of his of his plate appearances. The Cardinals have been on an impressive roll lately, winning five straight and 11 of 14 games since the All-Star break. After a frosty three-month stretch to open the year, the 31-year-old veteran slugger has been tearing the cover off the ball lately, hitting .286 (20-for-70) with eight home runs in 20 games since July 2.
MLB Betting Trends
Houston
The Astros are 7-1 in their last eight games overall and 33-16 in their last 49 interleague road games.
St. Louis
The Cardinals have won five straight, four of five at home and are 13-3 in their last 16 games versus a right-handed starter.
Prediction:
The under is 27-13-1 in the last 41 meetings between these two teams at Busch Stadium but with the way both teams are swinging the bats, the best value for bettors is with the over (which is even money as of this writing). The over is 12 in Jack Flaherty’s last 15 starts when facing a team with a winning record and is 10-4 in the Cardinals’ last 14 interleague games when facing a winning opponent. On the other side, the over has cashed in five of the Astros’ last seven road games and is 4-1 in their last five road contests versus a right-handed starter.
The Pick: Astros/Cardinals OVER (+100)