MLB Odds: Marlins 'over' Astros
Something has to give Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park when the Astros host the Florida Marlins for Game 2 of their three-game set. In the end, what gives just might be the 'total.'
When right-handers Josh Johnson for Florida and Bud Norris for Houston square off at Minute Maid Park Tuesday night, each will be looking to have his first quality start against his respective foe. It sets a statistical trap on the 'over,' and given the way the Astros' bats have opened the season, it's still hard to ignore the 'under' in this one.
In his short career, Norris has proven tough on the strong Cardinals lineup, but has not fared too well against the Marlins. Likewise, Johnson has been brilliant against many opposing lineups but found the going tough versus the Astros.
Early lines made the Marlins the clear 145-150 favorite with the total set at eight. The total has since been pushed to 8 ½.
Houston took the series opener on Tuesday, 7-5, in a game that was a virtual pick 'em with Florida the -108 chalk. Lance Berkman made his 2010 debut in the Astros lineup and the home team got a two-run pinch homer from Jason Michaels in the eighth for the margin of victory. The loss left the Marlins 8-6 on the season (plus 2.1 units). It was Houston's first win at home, and fourth win in its last five games to move to 4-9, minus 3.1 units.
Florida won four of the seven played against the Astros in 2009, going 3-1 at home and 1-2 in Houston. All four in Miami went 'over' and all three in Houston went 'under' with the totals ranging from as low as 7 ½ to as high as 10.
Johnson has faced the Astros three times in his career, twice as a starter and once in relief. He's taking a bruise in the loss column in each appearance. One of those was last August in Houston when Johnson worked 4 1/3 innings and gave up two homers and all four runs in a 4-1 defeat. In 11 career innings against the 'Stros, Johnson has surrendered nine earned runs.
This is a very anemic Astros lineup right now, however, even with Berkman back in the lineup. And Johnson is coming off a solid outing his last trip to the hill; at home against the Reds on April 15, the 6-foot-7 former fourth-round pick went six frames, striking out 10 and allowing a single run in Florida's 10-2 win as 145 chalk.
The same day Johnson was hurling the Fish past Cincinnati, Norris (1-1, 3.52) was helping Houston pick up its first win of the season in St. Louis. The chunky righty tossed five innings with just a lone unearned run coming home in the Astros' 5-1 win. It was his third win over the Cards in as many career starts, and Norris still has yet to allow an earned run to Albert Pujols and Company.
Norris has made up for that in a negative way against the Marlins, surrendering 10 runs total (nine earned) in two starts against Florida covering 10 2/3 innings. Both outings came last August not long after Norris made his MLB debut. Houston managed to outslug the Marlins in his start in Miami for a 14-6 victory, but fell at home to Florida, 6-2.
It should be an enjoyable evening for fans at the game on Wednesday, with the roof at Minute Maid open. Sunny skies during the day will give way to a few clouds during the contest. The temperature at the start should be in the low-70s with a SSE wind at 10-12 mph (out to right-center).
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2009 season. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com, DonBest.com and, of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
Something has to give Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park when the Astros host the Florida Marlins for Game 2 of their three-game set. In the end, what gives just might be the 'total.'
When right-handers Josh Johnson for Florida and Bud Norris for Houston square off at Minute Maid Park Tuesday night, each will be looking to have his first quality start against his respective foe. It sets a statistical trap on the 'over,' and given the way the Astros' bats have opened the season, it's still hard to ignore the 'under' in this one.
In his short career, Norris has proven tough on the strong Cardinals lineup, but has not fared too well against the Marlins. Likewise, Johnson has been brilliant against many opposing lineups but found the going tough versus the Astros.
Early lines made the Marlins the clear 145-150 favorite with the total set at eight. The total has since been pushed to 8 ½.
Houston took the series opener on Tuesday, 7-5, in a game that was a virtual pick 'em with Florida the -108 chalk. Lance Berkman made his 2010 debut in the Astros lineup and the home team got a two-run pinch homer from Jason Michaels in the eighth for the margin of victory. The loss left the Marlins 8-6 on the season (plus 2.1 units). It was Houston's first win at home, and fourth win in its last five games to move to 4-9, minus 3.1 units.
Florida won four of the seven played against the Astros in 2009, going 3-1 at home and 1-2 in Houston. All four in Miami went 'over' and all three in Houston went 'under' with the totals ranging from as low as 7 ½ to as high as 10.
Johnson has faced the Astros three times in his career, twice as a starter and once in relief. He's taking a bruise in the loss column in each appearance. One of those was last August in Houston when Johnson worked 4 1/3 innings and gave up two homers and all four runs in a 4-1 defeat. In 11 career innings against the 'Stros, Johnson has surrendered nine earned runs.
This is a very anemic Astros lineup right now, however, even with Berkman back in the lineup. And Johnson is coming off a solid outing his last trip to the hill; at home against the Reds on April 15, the 6-foot-7 former fourth-round pick went six frames, striking out 10 and allowing a single run in Florida's 10-2 win as 145 chalk.
The same day Johnson was hurling the Fish past Cincinnati, Norris (1-1, 3.52) was helping Houston pick up its first win of the season in St. Louis. The chunky righty tossed five innings with just a lone unearned run coming home in the Astros' 5-1 win. It was his third win over the Cards in as many career starts, and Norris still has yet to allow an earned run to Albert Pujols and Company.
Norris has made up for that in a negative way against the Marlins, surrendering 10 runs total (nine earned) in two starts against Florida covering 10 2/3 innings. Both outings came last August not long after Norris made his MLB debut. Houston managed to outslug the Marlins in his start in Miami for a 14-6 victory, but fell at home to Florida, 6-2.
It should be an enjoyable evening for fans at the game on Wednesday, with the roof at Minute Maid open. Sunny skies during the day will give way to a few clouds during the contest. The temperature at the start should be in the low-70s with a SSE wind at 10-12 mph (out to right-center).
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2009 season. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com, DonBest.com and, of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
