<p>
The Yankees grabbed the opener of this American League Championship Series Saturday night and shoot for a sweep of the first two games on the road Sunday night down in H-Town. Who do we like for our free MLB pick on Game 2?
</p>
<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
</h2>
<p>
MLB playoffs betting odds opened Houston at around -155 for Game 2 over New York, with an over/under of 7.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped that line to -160.
</p>
<p>
Houston could also be found getting around +135, giving the run and a half on the MLB run line.
</p>
<h2>
Yankees vs. Astros Game 2 Set-Up<br />
</h2>
<p>
New York won Game 1 of this ALCS Saturday night 7-0, cashing in as a +135 underdog on the MLB betting line. The Yankees broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fourth inning, then scored two runs in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings to pull away.
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<p>
New York rapped out 13 hits Saturday night, including three homers, while starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and three relievers held high-powered Houston to just three singles.
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<p>
Also, Saturday's game played under a total of nine runs.
</p>
<p>
With Saturday's win, the Yankees are 4-0 in these MLB playoffs.
</p>
<p>
With Saturday's loss, the Astros are 3-3 in these playoffs.
</p>
<p>
Houston took the regular-season series from the Yankees this year four games to three.
</p>
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<h2>
Game 2 Starting Arms<br />
</h2>
<p>
Verlander, by our strict standards, is 25/36 on quality starts this season and three for his last five. Tuesday, pitching on short rest, Verlander gave up four runs and seven hits, including two home runs, through just 3 2/3 innings of a 4-1 Astros loss to Tampa Bay in Game 4 of that ALDS. But over his four starts previous to that, he allowed just five runs and 15 hits through 24 innings, with 33 strikeouts.
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<p>
On the season Houston is 25-11 with Verlander, 4-1 over his last five starts.
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<p>
In two starts this year against New York, Verlander allowed six runs and 11 hits through 13 innings. The Astros won both those games.
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<p>
Lefty Paxton is only 12/30 on quality starts this year, but he's been good as of late. Nine days ago, in Game 1 of that ALDS against Minnesota, Paxton gave up three runs and five hits, including a couple of dingers, through just 4 2/3 innings, although the Yankees won that game anyway 10-4. And over his five starts previous to that Paxton allowed only four runs – three earned – and 14 hits through 25 2/3 innings.
</p>
<p>
On the season New York is 21-9 with Paxton, 12-0 over his last 12 starts!
</p>
<p>
In two starts this season against Houston, Paxton allowed six runs and 13 hits through nine innings. The Yanks split those two games.
</p>
<h2>
Game 2 Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
New York batted .265/.336/.484 against right-handed pitching this season. Numbers like those help this lineup rank among the top five in Baseball in this split this year.
</p>
<p>
Houston batted .274/.362/.505 against left-handed pitching this season. Those numbers are why we rank this lineup among the top three in Baseball in this split.
</p>
<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
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 just three runs and 11 hits through 16 1/3 innings of work in these playoffs.
</p>
<p>
The Astros pen put up a 3.75 ERA this year and a 1.20 WHIP while holding foes to a .694 OPS. Houston relievers have since allowed ten runs and 25 hits through 16 innings in these playoffs.
</p>
<h3>
Totals Report<br />
</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Overs played 84-72 in Yankees games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders played 84-71 in Astros games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders finished 39-37 in games played at Minute Maid Park this season.
</li>
<li>
Overs are 5-3 in Yankees-Astros games this season.
</li>
<li>
Overs are 20-9 this season with Paxton.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 23-12 this season with Verlander.
</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/1210749">Yankees at Astros MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>