<p>
It's a rematch of an American League playoff series from last season when the Indians and Astros begin a four-game series in H-Town Thursday night. Which way are we going with our free MLB pick for Thursday?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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<p>
Thursday's MLB betting odds opened Houston and Cole at around -150 over Cleveland and Bauer, with an over/under of 7.5 runs. Both figures were holding steady in early betting action.
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<h2>
Indians vs. Astros Set-Up<br />
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<p>
Cleveland just split two games at home with Miami, winning Wednesday 6-2. The Indians let the Marlins tie that game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the eighth inning, then scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth for the victory.
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<p>
Wednesday's win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Tribe. But just before that they won four in a row. At 13-10 overall the Indians trail division-leading Minnesota by a half-game in the AL Central.
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<p>
Houston, meanwhile, just took two of three games at home from those Twins, winning Wednesday's rubber match 7-1. The Astros won as heavy -245 favorites Wednesday but also covered against the run line at a price of -125.
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<p>
So Houston has won two straight, after losing three in a row. At 15-9 overall the Astros lead the AL West by a half-game over second-place Seattle.
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<p>
This is the first meeting between these playoff contenders this season. Last year Houston took four of seven games from Cleveland during the regular season, then swept the Indians in three games in the divisional round of the American League playoffs.
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<h2>
Thursday's Starting Arms<br />
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<p>
This pitching match-up is a rematch of a game played last May in Cleveland, a 14-inning, 10-9 Indians victory. That game was 4-3 when these pitchers left in the eighth inning before the bullpens blew things up.
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<p>
Cole, by our strict standards, is 3/5 on quality starts this season. But he's coming off one of the worst outings of his career, last Saturday at Texas, when he got rocked for nine runs – eight earned – and nine hits through just 4 1/3 innings of a 9-4 Astros loss. But through his first four starts of this season, he held opponents to nine ER through 19 innings.
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<p>
On the season Houston is 2-3 with Cole.
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<p>
In two starts last year against the Indians Cole allowed four runs and seven hits through 14 innings, with 20 strikeouts. The Astros split those two games.
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<p>
Bauer is 4/5 on quality starts this season and two for his last two. Last Saturday he held Atlanta to two runs and three hits through 6 1/3 innings of a game Cleveland eventually lost 8-7, and just before that he held the Mariners to one run through 6 2/3 innings of a 6-4 Indians win.
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<p>
On the season Cleveland is 3-2 with Bauer.
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<p>
Over his last three starts against Houston, one last year and two in 2017, Bauer allowed 11 runs and 16 hits through 19 innings. The Indians won all three of those games.
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<h2>
Thursday's Batting Splits<br />
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<p>
Cleveland is only hitting .209/.301/.331 against right-handed pitching this season. But this lineup has also scored at least five runs in four of its last five games.
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Houston is batting .272/.348/.472 against RH pitching this season. This lineup has also scored 32 runs over its last four games.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Indians bullpen owns a 3.58 ERA this season, with a 1.33 WHIP and 74/28 strikeouts/walks ratio.
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The Astros bullpen owns a 2.96 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and a 78/22 K/BB ratio.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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<ul>
<li>
The unders are 12-11 in Indians games this season.
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<li>
The unders are 14-10 in Astros games this season.
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<li>
The overs are 5-4 in games played at Minute Maid Park this season.
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<li>
The overs finished 7-3 in Indians-Astros games last season.
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<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1075058<br />
">Indians at Astros MLB Match-Up Stats </a> </span>
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</ul>
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