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The Houston Astros find themselves one win away from another trip to the World Series after taking Game 4 of this American League Championship Series from the Yankees Thursday night. And the Astros get to throw one of their aces against the Pinstripes for Game 5 Friday night in the Bronx. How are we playing this one with our free MLB pick?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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MLB playoff betting odds opened New York at around -130 for Game 5 over Houston, with an over/under of 7.5 runs. Early betting action then flipped the Astros into -130 favorites.
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<h2>
Astros vs. Yankees Game 5 Set-Up<br />
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New York took the opener of this ALCS down in Houston last Saturday, but the Astros have won the next three games, including an 8-3 decision in Game 4 Thursday night. The Yankees took an early lead Thursday with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but Houston got a three-run homer from George Springer at the top of the third and another three-run bomb from Carlos Correa in the top of the sixth and hung on from there for the victory.
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The Astros cashed in at +120 underdogs on the MLB betting line Thursday night, and the game played over a total of 8.5 runs.
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With Thursday's win, the Astros are 6-3 in these MLB playoffs.
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With Thursday's loss, New York is 4-3 in these playoffs.
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Houston took the regular-season series from the Yankees this year four games to three.
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<h2>
Game 5 Starting Arms<br />
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This pitching match-up is a rematch of Game 2 of this ALCS, a 3-2 Astros victory.
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Lefty Paxton, by our stringent standards, is only 12/31 on quality starts this season, and 0/2 in these playoffs. Last Sunday in Game 2 of this ALCS, he gave up one run on four hits and two walks through just 2 1/3 innings of that game New York eventually lost 3-2 in extra innings. And in his one start in the ALDS against Minnesota, he allowed three runs and five hits, including a couple of home runs, through 4 2/3 innings, although the Yankees won that game 10-4.
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On the season, New York is 21-10 with Paxton, 1-1 in these playoffs.
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In three starts against Houston, this season, Paxton allowed seven runs and 17 hits through 11 1/3 innings, with 15 strikeouts but also eight walks. The Yankees lost two of those three games.
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<p>
Verlander, meanwhile, is 26/37 on quality starts this season and 2/3 in these playoffs. Last Sunday, in Game 2 of this ALCS, Verlander allowed two runs and five hits through 6 2/3 innings of that 3-2 Houston win. And in three starts in these MLB playoffs, he's allowed six runs and 13 hits through 17 1/3 innings, with 20 strikeouts against eight walks.
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The Astros are 26-11 with Verlander this season, 2-1 in these playoffs.
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In three starts this season against New York, Verlander allowed eight runs and 16 hits through 19 2/3 innings, with 22 whiffs. Houston won all three of those games.
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<h2>
Game 5 Batting Splits<br />
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Houston batted .274/.362/.505 against left-handed pitching during the regular season. The Astros had only scored a total of 26 runs through their first eight playoff games but popped off for eight Thursday night.
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New York batted .265/.336/.484 against right-handed pitching during the regular season. The Yankees have since scored a total of 36 runs through seven postseason games, but they've missed slugger Giancarlo Stanton for the last three games, and he remains iffy for Friday night.
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<h3>
The Bullpens<br />
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The Yankees bullpen posted a 4.08 ERA this season and a 1.32 WHIP while allowing a .729 OPS. New York relievers have since allowed nine earned runs and 20 hits through 32 2/3 innings of work in these playoffs.
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The Astros pen posted a 3.75 ERA this year and a 1.20 WHIP while holding foes to a .694 OPS. Houston relievers have since allowed 13 ER and 29 hits through 27 innings in these playoffs.
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<h2>
MLB Betting Trends<br />
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Houston finished 47-34 on the road this season.
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New York finished 57-24 at home this season.
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Houston played a ML-best 39-11 against left-handed starters this season.
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New York played 70-41 against right-handed starters this season.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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Unders played 84-71 in Astros games this season.
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Overs played 84-72 in Yankees games this season.
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Overs are 6-5 in Yankees-Astros games this season.
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Unders played 44-35 in games played at Yankee Stadium this season.
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Overs are 20-10 this season with Paxton.
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Unders are 24-12 this season with Verlander.
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<p><section></p>
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<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/1211447">Astros at Yankees MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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