Houston Astros (69-60) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (74-54)
As the 2024 Major League Baseball season is coming to a close, there are going to be some critical games in Citizens Bank Park. One of them is scheduled for August 27th this year, and it will take place between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies. This game features two teams with different aspirations for the postseason and a contest between clubs who have had opposite forms lately. However, those long-time leaders have been a little bit shaky as they headed towards the final stages of the season, so now even more intrigue arises at least for fans who use the best bookie software looking forward to seeing what odds might appear best.
The Astros are currently 69-60 for the season and have a record of 2-3 in their last five games. The recent poor performance at ATS is an indicator that bettors who have a preference towards Houston should think twice before doing so. They have an average team batting average of .261, with 587 runs and 152 homers. The on-base percentage (OBP) is .321, while the slugging percentage (SLG) stands at .418. On the negative side, its pitching staff has a 3.81 ERA, which contrasts with a WHIP of 1.25, thereby showing some weak points on the mound that Phillies might capitalize upon.
However, despite the records of 74-54, which is only slightly better than theirs, Phillies are also in trouble as they have lost four games out of five and failed to cover the spread in all. There are bats in the lineup that nearly mirror those of the Astros, with an average of .256, whereas they have scored more runs (616). The OBP is slightly better at .325, while their SLG matches Houston’s at .418. As a group, Philadelphia’s pitchers have maintained a more respectable 3.72 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. In spite of recent struggles, this slight advantage in pitching figures could be decisive for them.
Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game Info
| When: | Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 6:40 PM ET |
| Where: | Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA |
| TV: | TBS |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Justin Verlander (3-3, 3.92 ERA) vs. Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45 ERA)
A seasoned pitcher for the Astros, Justin Verlander, has not had his best season, as indicated by his 3-3 mark and a 3.92 ERA. His vulnerability has been shown through giving out 56 hits in 62 innings and with a WHIP of 1.19 besides the surrendered 11 home runs. However, it should be noted that this season, he seems to be having some inconsistencies despite his expertise in high-pressure matches.
This is, however, not the case with Aaron Nola, who is more stable, according to statistics. Across 159.1 innings pitched, Nola maintained an excellent record of 11-6 and an ERA of impressive figure standing at solidly 3.45. He kept his walks-to-strikeouts ratio in check of 148/41 while WHIP stood at 1.18, demonstrating his control, too. Taking into account that Verlander might have worse HR/9 rates than him, it implies that the Phillies could just have an advantage over their opponents concerning this pitching battle.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
Currently, there is no information available about the betting odds and moneylines for both teams. These odds are still being figured out with the help of the pitching matchup and recent team performance trends. No bettor should be left behind, and they must follow up on any updates as game day gets closer because Phillies have a very slim advantage in terms of pitching stats and playing at home could give them an edge over their opponents.
Houston Astros Betting Trends
Astros’ recent performance shows a situation that is well balanced with a .500 on-road ATS record (32-32). Three of their last five games have had total ending OVER, which indicates increased scoring tendencies, and it’s worth considering by bettors over/under for this game.
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends
The Phillies have struggled more noticeably against the spread, especially in their recent games, with a 0-5 record. Like the Astros, two of their last five games have gone over the total. Although their home ATS record is not appealing to local fans, their ability to score runs might contribute to playing over.
Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies 8/27/24 Betting Picks
Considering the current forms and stats, the Phillies can have a little edge, especially when Aaron Nola is on the mound. His consistent performance might be enough to stop hitters from the Astros and make Philadelphia a safer bet for home games.
As a betting strategy, considering the OVER on total runs might be wise, given that both teams have been involved in more high-scoring games of late. This could result in prop bets around his strikeout numbers, as he has a very high strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Given the comparative analysis and the pitching advantage with Nola, we expect the Phillies to take this game at an estimated score of 5-3. For instance, one may think of backing Philadelphia for the win or possibly taking chances with OVER on total runs, which are all similar picks as those made by MLB expert free picks showing an excitement-filled and competitive game.
