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The 64-60 Houston Astros open a three game set versus the 62-59 Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania tonight. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET at PNC Park.
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In their last games: The Astros beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 and the Pirates lost to the Miami Marlins 3-2. Houston scored five runs on nine hits while giving up three runs on six hits in their win over the Baltimore. Pittsburgh gave up three runs on six hits and could muster just two runs on five hits in their loss to the Marlins.
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The Astros come into this game riding a three-game winning streak where they have combined to score 32 runs. They sit in 3rd place in the AL West 8.5 games back of the Texas Rangers. Houston ranks 11th in the Majors in runs scored and 10th in team ERA.
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The Pirates are coming off being swept in a three-game series by the Miami Marlins and in the last two games they only combined for three runs. Pittsburgh is in 3rd place in the NL Central 15 games back of the Chicago Cubs. They rank 18th in runs scored and 15th in team ERA.
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<h2>
Pitching Match Up<br />
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Houston: Doug Fister (11-8, 3.76 ERA) Pittsburgh: Jameson Taillon (3-2, 3.00 ERA)
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Doug Fister goes for the Astros tonight and in his last outing he only lasted four innings giving up four earned runs in an 8-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Houston has lost two of his last three starts and in his last two outings he has gone 11 innings and given up nine earned runs. The Astros are 14-6 in Fister’s last 20 starts and they have won eight of their last nine road games with him on the hill.
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Jameson Taillon gets the start for the Pirates and in his last outing he gave up three earned runs in six innings in a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants. The Pirates have won seven of his last eight starts including his last three. Taillon has not given up over three earned runs in any of his last seven starts. The Pirates are 4-1 in Taillon’s last five starts against a team with a winning record.
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<h2>
Batting Angles<br />
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The Pirates are 14-5 in their last 19 games against the Astros.
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The Pirates are 20-7 in their last 27 home games against the Astros.
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This season the Pirates are 33-28 at home and the Astros are 30-32 on the road.
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STRAIGHT UP / OVER/UNDER / RUN LINE RECORDS<br />
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Houston Astros: 64-60 SU / O/U 55-62 / Run Line W/L 55-69 Pittsburgh Pirates: 62-59 SU / O/U 68-51 / Run Line W/L 58-63
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<h2>
Houston at Pittsburgh Key Betting Trends<br />
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HOU is 7-3 in their last 10 road games.
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HOU is 24-10 in their last 34 interleague games.
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HOU has an Over record of 6-1 in their last 7 games.
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PITT is 5-1 in their last 6 interleague games.
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PITT is 1-4 in their last 5 home games.
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PITT has an Over record of 5-2-1 in their last 8 games.
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Key Player Injuries<br />
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<b>ASTROS</b><br />
[LF] 08/07/2016 - Colby Rasmus 15-day DL (8/5) ( Ear )<br />
[P] 08/03/2016 - Lance McCullers 15-day DL (8/2) ( Elbow )<br />
[LF] 08/13/2016 - Preston Tucker 15-day DL (8/11) ( Shoulder )<br />
[3B] 07/29/2016 - Luis Valbuena 15-day DL (7/27) ( Hamstring )
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<b>PIRATES </b><br />
[3B] 08/21/2016 - Jung-ho Kang 15-day DL (8/20) ( Shoulder )<br />
[P] 07/24/2016 - Tyler Glasnow 15-day DL (7/24) ( Shoulder )<br />
[C] 07/04/2016 - Chris Stewart 15-day DL (7/2) ( Knee )
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