<p>
It's a rematch of an American League divisional-round playoff series from last year when the Astros and Indians meet for a three-game series in Cleveland beginning Tuesday night. Houston swept the Tribe out of the post-season in three games last October, and it looks like the teams could well meet this October again. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
</p>
<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
</h2>
<p>
Tuesday's <a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/odds&quot; title="Live MLB Betting Lines">MLB betting odds</a> opened Houston at around -115 over Cleveland, with an over/under of 8.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped that line 15 cents, up to about -130 depending on which <a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/sportsbooks">sportsbook</a&gt; you play at.
</p>
<h2>
Astros vs. Indians Set-Up<br />
</h2>
<p>
Houston just took two of three games at St. Louis over the weekend, winning Sunday 6-2. The Astros then enjoyed Monday off.
</p>
<p>
Just before that Houston took two of three from Oakland, and just before that they swept three games from Texas, so the Astros are 3-0 over their last three series and 9-2 over their last 11 games.
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<p>
At 68-39 overall Houston leads the AL West by eight games over the second-place A's. They're now tied with the Yankees in the battle for the best record in the American League.
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<p>
Cleveland, meanwhile, just took three of four games at home from Kansas City, missing the sweep by losing Sunday 9-6. The Indians then also enjoyed Monday off.
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<p>
Just before that, the Tribe took two of three games from Toronto, and in the series, prior to that, they took two of three from the Royals. Going back a bit further Cleveland is 4-0 over its last four series and 12-3 over its previous 15 games.
</p>
<p>
At 62-43 overall the Indians now trail division-leading Minnesota by just two games in the AL Central, and they lead the American League wild-card race by three games over second-place Oakland.
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<p>
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season; back in April, they split four games down in Houston.
</p>
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<p></aside></p>
<h2>
Tuesday's Starting Arms<br />
</h2>
<p>
<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/208502&quot; title="Shane Bieber Pitching Logs">Bieber</a>, by our stringent standards, is 12/21 on quality starts this season and four for his last five. Last Wednesday he tossed a beauty, holding Toronto scoreless on one hit through a full nine innings of a 4-0 Cleveland victory. And while he gave up five runs in his previous outing, he'd allowed five runs total over his last three starts, covering 22 1/3 innings.
</p>
<p>
On the season the Indians are 15-6 with Bieber, 5-0 over his last five starts.
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<p>
In his only career start against the Astros, back in April of this season, Bieber allowed three runs on three hits and four walks through six frames of a 4-3 Cleveland loss.
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/39405&quot; title="Justin Verlander Pitching Logs">Verlander</a> is 16/22 on quality starts this year and three for his last three. Last Wednesday he held the A's to one run – none earned – and two hits through six innings, with 11 strikeouts, in a 4-2 Houston win. And over his last three starts, he's allowed just four ER and 14 hits through 18 innings, with 30 whiffs.
</p>
<p>
The Astros are 16-6 with Verlander this season, 3-0 over his last three starts.
</p>
<p>
In his most recent start against the Indians, in that ALDS last October, Verlander allowed two runs and two hits through 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 Houston victory.
</p>
<h2>
Tuesday's Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
Houston is batting .267/.339/.466 against right-handed pitching this season.
</p>
<p>
Cleveland is batting .251/.326/.434 against RH pitching this season.
</p>
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</div>
<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Astros bullpen owns a 3.83 ERA this season and a 1.22 WHIP while allowing a .696 OPS.
</p>
<p>
The Indians pen owns an ML-best 3.25 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP while allowing a .705 OPS.
</p>
<p>
Both these units rank among the top half-dozen bullpens in Baseball.
</p>
<h2>
Totals Report<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Unders are 57-45 in Astros games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 56-46 in Indians games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 30-23 in games played at Progressive this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 3-0 in Astros-Indians games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are a combined 29-12 with Bieber and Verlander this season.
</li>
</ul>
<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/1081208">Houston at Clevelan MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>