Heading into game two of this interleague matchup, the Marlins (63-57, 37-25 home) will send Johnny Cueto to the mound against the Astros (68-52, 35-26 away) and Cristian Javier. Check out my pick for today’s Houston Astros vs. Miami Marlins game in Miami.

HOUSTON ASTROS VS MIAMI MARLINS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Houston Astros -130

This game will be played at loanDepot Park at 6:40 ET on Tuesday, August 15th.

WHY BET THE HOUSTON ASTROS:

  • In their two most recent games as the underdog, the Astros are 2-0.
  • As the road underdog, the Astros’ win streak currently stands at five games.
  • Johnny Cueto has given up five away runs across his last three starts.

HOUSTON ASTROS STRUGGLING VS RUNLINE OF LATE

For the season, the Astros have put together a record of 68-52 and are 2nd in the AL West, putting them 3.5 games out of first place. Houston’s overall series record sits at 21-14-3. On the road, they have gone 35-26 and 33-26 at home.

The Astros will turn to starter Cristian Javier, who has an impressive 8-2 record in 22 appearances this season. His ERA is 4.36, and he has a K/9 of 8.41. His FIP is 4.59, while his OBP stands at .290.

Cristian Javier earned the W in Houston’s 8-2 triumph over Baltimore after allowing two runs on four hits in his last outing. The Astros righty has been impressive thus far in 2023, with a 3-1 record and a 2.45 ERA.

For the season, the Astros are 12th in batting average, hitting a combined .251. Over their last five games, they have hit .293 which is 1st in that span. Houston’s average of 4.8 runs per game puts them 6th in the league. In terms of home runs, they have gone deep 153 times and have a team slugging percentage of .416.

Jose Altuve has been a consistent force for the Houston Astros this season, boasting a .323 batting average and .545 slugging percentage. Over the past ten games, Altuve has been particularly impressive, leading the team in hits with a .489 average.

WILL THE MIAMI MARLINS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Through 120 games, the Marlins have a record of 63-57. This mark includes going 20-17-1 across their 38 series. Currently, Miami is 3rd in the NL East and have a 37-25 record at home while going 26-32 on the road. So far, the Marlins have gone 27-35 against teams with above .500 records.

Johnny Cueto has taken the mound seven times in 2023, with a record of 0-3 to show for it. His ERA stands at 5.33, while opponents are batting .206 against him. On the road, he is yet to record a win, but his ERA is a respectable 2.70. At home, however, he has an ERA of 12.38 and is still looking for his first victory of the season. Teams have compiled a slugging percentage of .443 against Cueto in 2023 thus far.

Johnny Cueto’s last outing against the Reds saw him surrender three runs on five hits over five innings. Although he did not factor into the decision, Cueto’s performance enabled the Marlins to come away with a 5-4 victory.

The Marlins have been one of the top power lineups in the league of late, having hit 8 home runs over their last five games. Compared to other clubs, this is 3rd best in that span. For the season, they are ranked 24th in home runs and 15th in slugging percentage. Overall, Miami is averaging 4.1 runs per game (23rd).

Jorge Soler has been one of the Marlins’ top hitters in 2023, boasting a .244 batting average and driving in 63 runs. The slugger has also hit 29 home runs so far this season.