Philadelphia Phillies vs Houston Astros Picks and Predictions August 26th 2024

Phillies, Astros turn to top pitchers for interleague contest

At 6:40 PM ET, the Astros and Phillies will face off in an interleague matchup. This one is being played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and the Phillies are favored on the money line at -163. The Astros are the AL West leaders and their money line odds are sitting at +138. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs.

FS1 will be televising Monday’s Astros vs. Phillies matchup, and Zack Wheeler will be starting for the Phillies, while the Astros are going with Ronel Blanco. Houston is 70-60 this season, while the Phillies are 76-54 and have won two straight.

Houston vs. Philadelphia Key Information

• Teams: Astros at Phillies
• Where: Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia
• Date: Monday, August 26th
• Betting Odds PHI -163 | HOU +138 O/U 8

The Astros Can Win If…

Houston is sending Ronel Blanco to the mound today vs. the Phillies, and he comes in with a record of 9-6 and an ERA of 3.14. Blanco has made 24 starts this year and has pitched well on the road, going 5-2 with a 2.81 ERA. Overall, he has a WHIP of 1.06 and has issued 3.6 walks per nine innings compared to 8.89 strikeouts. Blanco’s last outing came on August 20th, where he gave up five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Before that, he had gone three straight starts without taking the loss.

Yordan Alvarez has been a big power threat for the Astros this season, as his 25 homers are 1st on the team and 11th in the league. He is also 2nd on the team with a batting average of .306. Alex Bregman is also a big power threat for the Astros, as his 21 homers are 2nd on the team and 14th in the league. Bregman comes into the game with a batting average of .260.

Yainer Diaz has been swinging a hot bat for the Astros, as he has gone 10/29 in his last seven games, with three homers during that stretch. Diaz is currently 3rd on the team with 16 homers and is batting .301 for the season. Diaz’s nine-game hitting streak is the longest on the team.

• The Astros are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Astros are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Houston has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Astros have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Astros are 8-2
• Looking back across the Astros last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Houston has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Astros have averaged 5.3 runs per game on offense

The Phillies Can Win If…

Right-hander Zack Wheeler is starting for the Phillies today and comes into the game with a record of 12-6 and an ERA of 2.73. Wheeler has made 25 starts this season and has turned in 19 quality starts. His WHIP for the season is currently .98, and opponents are batting .190 off Wheeler this year. In his last outing, Wheeler took the loss, giving up two earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had won three straight starts. Wheeler has been much better at home, coming in with a record of 8-3 and an ERA of 2.68 compared to 4-3 with a 3.84 ERA on the road.

Philadelphia has been one of the league’s top offenses this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 6th in the MLB. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.3 runs per contest. Overall, they are 4th in the league in batting average and have the 4th best on-base percentage in the league. The Phillies have also been one of the league’s best power-hitting teams, as they are 10th in home runs and have the 7th best slugging percentage in the league.

Over the past six games, Bryson Stott has gone 8/20 for the Phillies, while J.T. Realmuto has gone 7/17 in his last five games. Realmuto also has two homers in this stretch and nine RBIs. Bryce Harper comes into the game on a four-game hitting streak and is 10th in the league with 26 homers.

• The Phillies are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Phillies are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Philadelphia has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Phillies have an average of 6.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Phillies are 4-6
• Looking back across the Phillies last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Philadelphia has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Phillies have averaged 4.6 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For this Astros vs. Phillies matchup, we are leaning towards the Astros picking up the win on the road. We have this as the 7th highest-scoring game of the day, and our lean would be on the over. Looking at today’s starters, Zack Wheeler has the 7th best strikeout projection compared to Ronel Blanco (11th).

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The Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies are set to clash in a much-anticipated interleague series starting Monday, with both teams sending top-tier pitchers to the mound. This matchup not only pits two postseason hopefuls against each other but also serves as a rematch of the 2022 World Series, adding extra weight to the series.

Pitching Matchup: Strength vs. Resilience

The Astros will rely on Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.14 ERA) to lead their charge. Blanco, however, is coming off one of his roughest outings of the season, where he struggled against the Boston Red Sox, giving up five earned runs over 3 2/3 innings. Despite the setback, Blanco remains confident in his physical condition and is eager to rebound.

On the other side, the Phillies will counter with Zack Wheeler (12-6, 2.73 ERA), one of the National League’s most dominant pitchers this season. Wheeler, a Cy Young Award contender, has been remarkably consistent, allowing two runs or fewer in nine of his last ten starts. Although he took a loss in his last game against the Atlanta Braves, Wheeler’s performance continues to be a pillar for the Phillies as they push towards the postseason.

Momentum and Recent Performances

The Phillies enter this series riding a wave of momentum after a commanding sweep of the Kansas City Royals. They scored a staggering 26 runs over three games, including an 11-3 rout on Sunday, where Kyle Schwarber and Garrett Stubbs delivered standout performances. This offensive resurgence comes at a crucial time for Philadelphia, especially after a disappointing series against the Braves.

Conversely, the Astros had a mixed outcome in their recent four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. After opening with a dominant 6-0 victory, Houston dropped two close games but managed to split the series with a 6-3 win on Sunday. Key contributions came from Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz, who hit back-to-back homers to secure the win. Bregman, recovering from an elbow injury, showed signs of returning to form, which bodes well for Houston’s offense.

2022 World Series Rematch Adds Extra Drama

This series is more than just a regular season contest; it’s a rematch of the 2022 World Series, where the Astros emerged victorious in six games. Although these teams only meet once during the 2023 regular season, the history between them adds an extra layer of intensity to the matchup. Philadelphia won two out of three games last season, and they’ll be eager to prove themselves again.

Key Players and Injuries to Watch

For the Astros, the potential return of slugger Yordan Alvarez could be a game-changer. Alvarez has missed the last three games due to a neck injury, but his presence in the lineup would significantly bolster Houston’s offensive capabilities.

The Phillies, on the other hand, will look to maintain their disciplined approach at the plate, as emphasized by manager Rob Thomson. Their ability to “pass the baton” and avoid chasing bad pitches has been instrumental in their recent success, and continuing this trend will be crucial against Houston’s tough pitching staff.

What’s at Stake?

As both teams continue their push towards the postseason, each game in this series carries significant implications. The Astros are looking to maintain their strong position in the playoff race, while the Phillies need to keep winning to secure their spot. With two of the league’s top pitchers facing off and the added drama of a World Series rematch, this series promises to be one of the most exciting of the season.