Books are favouring the pirates for a reason, they finally are recieving some support from there bats and with burnett on the mound they will win this game. Pirates +120 is not an incredible price but there is definetly money to be won here.
2 key things tonight
1. Lucas Harrell (Houston -R) has been lights out his last 2 games....at home... vs the indians and the padres.... in 16 innings he has allowed 8 hits and 1 run but still 7 walks...
in his previous 3 road games he is lucky to be 1-2 allowing 19 runs on 23 hits with 4 walks in 17.2 innings..... He will get at least 5 innings tonight and he will allow 5+ which is all the pirates need.
2. AJ Burnett (Pittsburgh -R) has been on fire going 8-0 in his last 10 never allowing more then 3 runs and going 6+ innings 8 times. In his last 6 he has not allowed more then 1 hit an inning and if that continues he should hold this houston team to maybe 2 runs if burnett really screws up. Houston is no threat to a pitcher that has been dominating week after week.
Other stats suggesting pirates dominance
Pirates @ Home 24-13 10-6 @ home vs division
Astros on the Road 9-29 3-10 on road vs division
Astros 17-29 vs NL RHP
Pirates 23-22 vs NL RHP
Astros 7 runs in last 5 games
Pirates an incredible 41 runs in their last 5
Pirates won 3 of their last 4 games by 4 or more runs.
Pirates 9-2 in last 11 home games
Astros lost 7 straight on road and have only lost one by less then 3 runs
Pirates are 9-3 in their last 12 games in houston
Score prediction 6-2 Pirates