Houston sends Wandy Rodriguez to the mound tonight hoping to end a losing streak that reached seven with Cincinnati’s 4-1 win in the opener. Today’s report sets up the late card with trends, pitching stats and home plate umpire info plus NHL picks for Game 2 between the Kings and Devils
The Astros are 5-1 in their past six games against National League Central teams
Houston was 6-2 in a recent homestand but the wheels fell off early in seven-game road trip and the Astros are yet to recover. Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (4-4, 2.49 ERA) gets the call today and despite his club-leading 2.49 ERA, online sportsbooks have made the Reds a -120 favorite.
Rodriguez is 1-2 his last five outings and he’s been tabbed for six longballs. The eight year vet has made 24 career starts against the Reds for an 8-9 record with a 4.12 ERA though he did hold the Reds to two runs on six hits in a 6-4 Astros win at Great America Ballpark April 27.
Cincinnati right-hander Mat Latos (4-2, 4.58 ERA) has a 3-1 record vs. Houston but he too has been plagued by the longball. Latos surrendered five souvenirs his last outing but still managed to grab a win against Colorado.
MLB Picks: The Astros are 16-11 at home this season and 6-1 the past seven home games when coming off a loss. Take Houston at plus-money as our underdog pick of the day
HEY BLUE!
Eric Cooper will handle the Twins at Indians (-138, 9 UN -137) as Minnesota looks to even the series. The Twins were on three-game run coming in and we could see some scoring tonight, as Cooper has called 7 overs the past 10 times he’s seen the Twins. He is 5-2 O/U with the American League this year and has 3 overs and 1 under in four games with a total of nine or more.
Bob Davidson (8-3-2 O/U) is another “Over” ump and the New York Yankees (-107, 9.5 UN -107) vs. Detroit Tigers have gone over the number five times in the past seven meetings. Davidson has called 5 overs and 1 under in American League games this season and the Tigers are currently riding a five-game streak of overs.
ICE TIME
EveryEdge NHL handicapper Jarvis Simes broke down tonight’s Los Angeles Kings vs. New Jersey Devils matchup in Stanley Cup Picks – Game 2. His play is on the Devils evening this series and here are some of the highlights:
The Devils are 5-1 off a loss in the 2012 NHL Playoffs and have only lost back-to-back games once (Round 1, Games 2 and 3 vs. the Panthers).
New Jersey was 3-1 at home off a loss and 2-0 on the road. They have never trailed by two games in any series.
Two of the past three Stanley Cup champions have fell into a 2-0 hole but both teams lost the first two games on the road.
Overall, the Devils have outscored opponents 21-10 off a loss and Over/Under results were 1 over, 2 unders and 3 pushes but those lines were all either 5 or 5.5. NHL odds for tonight’s game are New Jersey -110 and 4.5 OV -115.
Follow EveryEdge on Twitter and check updated NHL, NBA and MLB odds here!