The MLB World Series continues on Saturday, October 29, with Game 2 in Houston after an exciting Game 1 on Friday, and here you can take a look at the best Phillies vs. Astros betting pick and odds.

Philadelphia and Houston will play the second of a seven-game World Series at Minute Maid Park. The Astros are -135 moneyline favorites on BookMaker Sportsbook, while the total is set at 7 runs. These inter-league rivals faced on three occasions this season, and Houston won the regular season series 2-1. However, the Phillies drew the first blood in the World Series with a win in Game 1.

Phillies edged the Astros in the extra inning

The Philadelphia Phillies upset Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series with a 6-5 win in the extra inning. The Phillies were 5-0 down early on but fought back to tie the game in the fifth inning, after which we didn’t see a single run until the 10th.

Philadelphia’s catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a solo home run in the 10th to give his team a surprising 1-0 lead in Houston. Realmuto finished the game with three RBIs, while Alec Bohm had two. Aaron Nola didn’t enjoy the best of starts after surrendering five runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 4.1 innings. Seranthony Dominguez was credited with a win, his second of the postseason, while David Robertson earned his first save of the playoffs.

Zack Wheeler (12-7, 1-1 in the playoffs) will get on the hill for Game 2 of the World Series against Houston on Saturday. The 32-year-old right-hander started 26 games this season and owns a 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 163/34 K/BB ratio in 153.0 innings.

Astros dropped a big lead in a loss to the Phillies

The Houston Astros suffered their first postseason defeat this year even though it didn’t look that way in the opening few frames in Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Houston was 5-0 up after the first three innings, and when the home fans thought that it was going to be an easy win to open the World Series, the Phillies responded and won thanks to J.T. Realmuto.

Kyle Tucker opened the scoring with a solo homer and then added a three-run homer to give his team a 5-0 lead. However, the Astros were in an inferior position since Philadelphia took over and the home team’s batters couldn’t score for the remainder of the game. Justin Verlander struggled in his start as he allowed five runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks over 5.0 innings. Still, he got a no-decision, while Luis Garcia took a loss.

Framber Valdez (17-6, 1-0 in the playoffs) is starting in Game 2 of the World Series against Philadelphia on Saturday. The 28-year-old left-hander had 31 starts this season and carries a 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 194/67 K/BB ratio across 201.1 innings of work.

Trends:

Philadelphia:

  • 3-7 in the last ten interleague games
  • 1-4 in the last five vs. American League West rivals
  • 1-6 in the last seven interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter

Houston:

  • 7-1 in the last eight playoff games
  • 6-1 in the last seven games vs. a right-handed starter
  • 5-1 in the last six games vs. a starter with a WHIP of less than 1.15

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros Pick

Philadelphia shocked the Astros in Game 1, but I think the home side will tie the series on Saturday because it will be tough to come back from a 0-2 deficit when the series moves to Philly. Both pitchers are phenomenal in the postseason so far, but I am giving a slight advantage to Framber Valdez, who has solid numbers against the Phillies’ batters. In his lone start against Philadelphia this year, Valdez allowed just two hits in five scoreless innings to get a win. After last night’s poor pitching from Justin Verlander, I expect to see a much better showing from Houston’s No. 2 here.

Pick: Take the Astros to win (-135)

The Total

Framber Valdez with a 1.42 ERA and Zack Wheeler with a 1.78 ERA have been magnificent in the postseason and they are clearly the best playoff pitchers of their respective teams this year. Given that Valdez allowed just a .135 BA to the Phillies’ batters in his career, I expect him to have a quality start. Wheeler allowed only five runs in four playoff starts and managed to fire shutouts in two of them. Under is 6-0 in the Astros’ last six games with the total set at 7.0-8.5, while Under is 6-2 in Houston’s previous eight games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.

Pick: Go Under 7 runs (-110)