Houston Astros vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction, Expert Picks, Odds, News, for 4/30/24

The Houston Astros return home after a profitable trip to Mexico City but the Cleveland Guardians arrive in the Lone Star State with bad intentions. Houston found two wins against the Rockies this past weekend, and no one is impressed especially our baseball expert Ej Garr.

The 19 – 9 Guardians also had Monday off to relax, and they find themselves as underdogs on Tuesday to open this 3-game series with the Astros. 

Hunter Brown and Carlos Carrasco are the probable starting pitchers for this contest, and both hurlers have plenty left to prove.

Our Astros vs Guardians prediction at +125 is available below!

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HOUSTON ASTROS VS CLEVELAND GUARDIANS PICKS AND PREDICTION

Carlos Carrasco is back with Guardians after spending the last three years in New York with the Mets. Let’s just put it out there that the Mets didn’t get a lick of their money’s worth in signing Carrasco, but he is back in Cleveland where he spent the first 11 years of his career.

Should we congratulate the Astros for winning two games against the Rockies this weekend in New Mexico? That will not happen here because the Colorado outfit is a terrible baseball team, and it will take more than that to convince me that Houston has anything figured out.

The Astros are 9 – 19 after the two wins over the Rockies but let’s not forget that Houston had lost 9 of their last 10 games before the series in New Mexico. 

The line setters seem to think the Astros have it all figured out now by listing them as -140 favorites, and that points me right to the underdog Guardians. 

The pitching matchup for me is a wash because Hunter Brown and Carlos Carrasco are both suspect on the mound. Carrasco is coming off a miserable start against Boston where he served up three homers in a loss to the Red Sox, 8 – 0.

Carrasco has one win for his five starts in 2024, and Hunter Brown is 0 – 4 in five starts with the Astros so this total might get smashed to bits on Tuesday night, The Minute Maid Park fans will enjoy the runs being scored, but they won’t be happy with the result of the game. Get set to see a loss to the Guardians at home to begin the series!

• Selection: Cleveland Guardians Moneyline
• Best Odds: +125 (2.25)
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 4/10

Houston Astros vs Cleveland Guardians Game Info

• Time: 19:10 Central Time, April 30
• Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
• Starting Pitchers: Hunter Brown vs Carlos Carrasco
• Game Lines: Houston -140 (1.70) / Cleveland +125 (2.25) – O/U 
• Where to Watch: MLBTV

Houston Astros News, Injury Report, Schedule:

Houston has won back-to-back games for only the third time this season after sweeping the Rockies in Mexico City. They have yet to win three games in succession in 2024, and that trend will continue tonight with the loss to the Guardians on Tuesday.

Houston will stay home to play a three-game series with Seattle after the Guardians leave town. After another Monday off next week, a trip to New York to face the Yankees awaits.

The Astros have 10 players with double-digit strikeouts on the offensive side of the ball, and the pitching staff is decimated with injuries. Houston is near the bottom of the league in team ERA and WHIP. All eight players on the Astros injury report are pitchers, and it will not change anytime soon.

Cleveland Guardians News, Injury Report, Schedule

The Guardians have alternated wins and losses over the last 6 games since sweeping the Oakland As on April 21. After winning two out of three games against the Red Sox, the Guardians lost two of three games in Atlanta to the Braves coming into Houston.

Cleveland will wrap up this series with the Astros on Thursday and then travel home for 3-game sets against the Angels and Tigers.

The Guardians are taking advantage of their team speed in 2024, ranking 4th in MLB stealing bags.  

Astros vs Guardians H2H: Houston Holds Slight Edge

The Astros and Guardians are only separated by one win in 89 meetings with Houston holding a  45 – 44 edge. 

Houston has won the season series against Cleveland for the last five years. The Astros have won six of seven series with the Guardians, and these two teams will meet again at the end of September in Cleveland.

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