Miami Eyes Fourth in Row
The Miami Marlins go for a fourth straight win when they begin a three-game weekend series with the host Houston Astros on Friday night. Miami is coming off a sweep of a three-game series with the Washington Nationals and is in fourth place in the National League East.
Houston has dropped three of five but is well out in front in the American League West standings. These two teams don’t get together very often, so read our in-depth preview of this contest before you make any bet online.
Let’s check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Marlins vs Astros. We’ve plenty of MLB predictions.
Marlins Waking Up at Plate
The Miami Marlins had no trouble with Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg on Thursday night, scoring seven runs to complete a sweep of the Nationals. Miami’s offense has started to cook and it’s showing up in the team’s win total.
Jesus Sanchez had a double and a home run in Thursday’s victory after sitting out of Wednesday’s game due to back stiffness. Sanchez has home runs in two of his last five games and is hitting .235 with seven doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 23 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
“It feels great to be back and able to perform,” Sanchez said after Thursday’s win. “Now that we’re here, we have to hustle and keep going.”
Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. had two hits and scored twice in the series finale. Chisholm is batting .255 with seven doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 37 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
Right-hander Pablo Lopez will get the start on Friday night for Miami. Lopez is 4-2 with a 2.18 ERA (ninth in baseball) in 11 starts, striking out 67 in 66 innings. Lopez had a rough outing in his last start, allowing four runs on four hits over seven innings against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. It was the second time in three starts that he’s allowed four earned runs.
Astros Inconsistent of Late
The Houston Astros have a comfortable lead in the AL West standings, but much of that is because of the slump of the second-place Los Angeles Angels. Houston has alternated wins and losses over its last six games and is hoping to find some consistency this weekend.
Right-hander Luis Garcia will make his 10th start in the series opener. Garcia is 3-4 with a 3.07 ERA, though he’s dropped his last three decisions. He was a hard-luck loser in his last start on Saturday, pitching seven innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out two and walking one in a 6-0 setback to the Kansas City Royals.
Outfielder Yordan Alvarez is having a great season, leading the Astros in a number of batting categories, including home runs, where he ranks second in baseball with 17. Alvarez is batting .299 with six doubles, two triples, 38 RBIs, and 38 runs scored.
Outfielder Michael Brantley has played in five games in June and has a hit in each one. He’s batting .286 with 11 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 17 RBIs, and 17 runs scored.
Marlins vs Astros Head-to-Head
The Miami Marlins and Houston Astros have not faced each other much since the Astros moved to the American League, with this series being just the third time since 2012 that they’ve met. Houston swept the three-game set in Miami in 2017, turning the tables on the Marlins, who had won three straight on the road against the Astros in 2014.
Houston is 49-30 all-time at home against the Marlins. The MLB lines for Friday’s contest have the home team as the favorite to start the series off with a win.
Marlins vs Astros Game Information
- Game: Marlins (25-30) vs Astros (36-21)
- Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston
- Day/Time: Friday,June 10, 8:10 p.m. ET
- Marlins vs Astros Live Stream: MLB.tv
Marlins vs Astros Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Miami Marlins P. Lopez -R | +1.5 -155 | +132 | 7½ -110o | 3½ Evo 3½ -130u |
| Houston Astros L. Garcia -R | -1.5 +135 | -147 | 7½ -110u | 4½ +110o 4½ -140u |
Marlins vs Astros Prediction
The Miami Marlins are coming in on a win streak, though that was against the last-place Washington Nationals. They’re stepping up in competition against the Houston Astros, and that’s going to be trouble as the host team should get the victory.
