Clarke Schmidt will get the start for the Yankees (56-52, 33-26 home) as they host the Astros (62-47, 31-22 away) at Yankee Stadium. The Astros will give the starting nod to Cristian Javier. Check out my prediction for game one of this American League matchup between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.

HOUSTON ASTROS VS NEW YORK YANKEES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Houston Astros -112

This game will be played at Yankee Stadium at 7:15 ET on Thursday, August 3rd.

WHY BET THE HOUSTON ASTROS:

  • The Astros have put together a 7-3 record in their last ten games as the favorite.
  • In their three most recent games as the favorite, the Astros are 3-0.
  • Clarke Schmidt has given up five away runs across his last four starts.

HOUSTON ASTROS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS ON THE ROAD

On a record of 62-47, the Astros come into today’s game 2nd in the AL West. When playing at home, they are 31-25 and 31-22 on the road. Houston has played in 34 series thus far, and have gone 18-14-2.

Cristian Javier takes the mound for the Astros with a 7-2 record in 2023. The right-hander has made 20 appearances, boasting an ERA of 4.33 and a K/9 rate of 8.58. His FIP is 4.31 and his OBP stands at .287.

Cristian Javier’s most recent start saw him pitch six innings and surrender three runs, yet the Astros were unable to come out on top, losing 4-3 to the Rays. Despite his quality performance, the right-hander was unable to secure a victory for Houston.

The Astros have been one of the top power lineups in the league of late, having hit 16 home runs over their last ten games. Compared to other clubs, this is 4th best in that span. For the season, they are ranked 9th in home runs and 12th in slugging percentage. Overall, Houston is averaging 4.8 runs per game (11th).

The Astros’ Kyle Tucker has been one of the team’s most consistent offensive contributors this season. He currently holds a .300 batting average, having driven in 74 runs and hitting 18 home runs.

WILL THE NEW YORK YANKEES TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Through 108 games, the Yankees have a record of 56-52. This mark includes going 16-13-6 across their 35 series. Currently, New York is 5th in the AL East and have a 33-26 record at home while going 23-26 on the road. So far, the Yankees have gone 37-40 against teams with above .500 records.

The Yankees will turn to starter Clarke Schmidt, who is 7-6 in 22 appearances this season. His ERA stands at 4.38, and he has a K/9 of 8.51. Additionally, his FIP is 4.40 and OBP .314.

The Yankees earned a victory the last time Clarke Schmidt was on the mound, defeating the Orioles 8-3. In five frames, he gave up five hits and three earned runs, resulting in a win for his record.

During their last ten games, New York is the 18th ranked offense in terms of batting average. In these games, they have hit a combined .240 and are averaging 4 runs per game. Across the entire season, the Yankees are hitting .231 with an OBP of .302 while averaging 4.3 runs per contest. This figure puts them 21st in the league.

Aaron Judge has been the Yankees’ premier power hitter in 2023, leading the team with 20 home runs and 42 RBIs. His slugging percentage for the season is a robust .663.