Baltimore Orioles vs Houston Astros Picks and Predictions August 24th 2024

From Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, we have the Astros and Orioles facing off in an AL matchup. First pitch for this one is set for 4:05 PM ET, and the Astros are the slight money line favorite, with their odds sitting at -129 compared to the Orioles at +109. The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs.

Albert Suarez is starting for the Orioles, and they are 2nd in the AL East with an overall record of 75-55. As for the Astros, they are 1st in the AL West with a record of 69-59. Saturday’s forecast in Baltimore calls for cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 70’s.

Houston vs. Baltimore Key Information

Left-hander Framber Valdez gets the start for the Astros today as he faces the Orioles on the road. He has made 22 starts this season and has a record of 13-5 with a 3.20 ERA. Valdez has won each of his last three starts, most recently picking up the win vs. the White Sox on August 18th. In that outing, he went seven innings and didn’t give up a run, finishing with nine strikeouts. Valdez has one complete game this year and 13 quality starts. His ERA at home is 3.50, compared to 3.91 on the road.

Yainer Diaz has been red hot at the plate for the Astros of late, going 12/37 in his last nine games with three homers. For the season, he is batting .303 with 15 home runs and 71 RBIs, which leads the team. Yordan Alvarez has also been a big power threat for the Astros, as his 25 homers are the best mark on the team and 13th in the league. He is also batting .306.

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As a team, the Astros are 2nd in the league in batting average at .261 and are averaging 4.6 runs per game. Houston’s team on-base percentage is 8th in the league, and they are also near the top of the league in slugging percentage and OPS. Overall, the Astros are the 11th ranked home run hitting team in the league.

Albert Suárez gets the start for the Orioles today and comes in with a record of 6-4 and an ERA of 3.18. So far this year, he has made 17 starts, and opponents are batting .243. In his 25 appearances, Suárez has turned in four quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Suárez was excellent, going six innings and not giving up a run. He got the win in that outing. Before that, he had gone three straight outings without giving up an earned run but finished with a no-decision in two of those starts. Suárez has not lost since July 15th.

Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson have been the Orioles’ top power threats this season, as Santander’s 38 homers are 3rd in the league, and Henderson is 6th in the league with 33 long balls. Santander is also 9th in the league with 86 RBIs. However, Santander has struggled a bit of late, hitting just .200 over his last five games. Gunnar Henderson has gone 6/21 in his last six games.

Overall, the Orioles have the league’s top offense in terms of home runs and are 3rd in the league in runs scored (5 runs per game). They are also the league’s top slugging team and have the best isolated power mark in the league. Their team batting average of .253 is 6th in the league.

Our lean in this Astros vs. Orioles matchup is to take the Astros to pick up the win. We also have this as the 4th highest-scoring game of the day and the 2nd highest combined hits projection. For an over/under pick, we would lean towards the over. Looking at the starters for this matchup, Framber Valdez has the 5th best odds to work deep into the game, while Albert Suárez has the 10th worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.

Orioles Hope Clutch Win Sparks a Late-Season Resurgence

The Baltimore Orioles have been searching for a spark to reignite their second-half push, and they may have found it with a dramatic 7-5 comeback victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night. In a game that seemed to be slipping away, the Orioles rallied in the eighth inning, with Anthony Santander delivering the decisive blow—a grand slam that lifted the team to a win and perhaps injected new life into their season.

Santander’s 38th home run of the season was not just another statistic; it was a pivotal moment that might change the Orioles’ fortunes. The atmosphere in Camden Yards was electric as the ball sailed over the fence, and the impact of that swing was felt deeply by the entire team.

“It was just a big exhale, it seemed like, in our dugout,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde reflected after the game. The sense of relief and renewed confidence was palpable, as the Orioles had been struggling, winning just three of their last eight games. Santander’s heroics not only provided the necessary runs but also reminded the team of their potential.

“It was a great atmosphere and Santander comes through once again at a time when we really have been scuffling,” Hyde continued. “We caught a couple breaks tonight. We haven’t been catching many breaks, either. Just a massive, massive hit for us.”

A Reminder of the Orioles’ Resilience

For the Orioles, this victory wasn’t just another win; it was a reaffirmation of their identity as a team. Despite recent struggles, they’ve shown they can compete until the final out, maintaining focus and determination. Santander echoed this sentiment:

“That is a reminder of who we are as a team. We always stay focused the whole game, we compete for 27 outs.”

This win felt especially significant given the recent slide, and the collective feeling in the clubhouse was one of renewed optimism. The Orioles know that a single win doesn’t change everything, but it can be a catalyst for a stronger finish to the season.

Astros Look to Bounce Back with Valdez on the Mound

On the other side, the Houston Astros are eager to put Friday’s loss behind them. Despite the setback, the Astros have been one of the hottest teams in baseball, losing only four of their last 16 games. Manager Joe Espada was quick to turn the page, focusing on the next game:

“The way I see it, we’ve got to turn the page, flush that one and get ready for (Saturday),” Espada said.

The Astros will send left-hander Framber Valdez to the mound on Saturday, hoping he can continue his recent dominance. Valdez has been in exceptional form, winning each of his last five starts and compiling an impressive 8-0 record with a 2.39 ERA over his last 10 games. His run of success began with a win over the Orioles on June 23, where he allowed just one run in seven innings.

Valdez has had mixed results against Baltimore in his career, holding a 4.08 ERA across five appearances (four starts). However, given his current form, the Astros will be confident in his ability to deliver another strong performance.

Suarez Aims to Continue Scoreless Streak

For the Orioles, right-hander Albert Suarez will take the mound, looking to extend his scoreless streak, which currently stands at 17 2/3 innings. Suarez has been quietly effective in recent outings, although his efforts haven’t always translated into wins. In his last start against the Boston Red Sox, Suarez pitched six shutout innings, striking out six, but received a no-decision.

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Suarez’s previous encounter with the Astros didn’t go as well, as he was tagged for five runs on 10 hits over five innings back in June. He’ll be looking for redemption on Saturday, aiming to help the Orioles secure a series lead.

Injury Concerns for the Orioles

One concern for the Orioles heading into Saturday’s game is the health of center fielder Cedric Mullins, who left Friday’s game with quad tightness after making a spectacular run-saving catch in the second inning. Mullins’ departure is a blow to the Orioles, as he has been a key contributor both offensively and defensively.

Manager Brandon Hyde expressed hope that the injury is minor:

“I’m hoping it’s just day-to-day. That was an incredible catch there. I don’t know if he did it on that play or not, but that saved a run, also.”

The Orioles will monitor Mullins closely, as his presence in the lineup is crucial for their success. In the meantime, they’ve made roster adjustments, reinstating Keegan Akin from paternity leave and optioning Nick Vespi back to Triple-A Norfolk.

Looking Ahead: Can the Orioles Build Momentum?

As the Orioles prepare for the third game of this four-game series, they’ll be looking to build on the momentum from Friday’s victory. A win on Saturday would not only secure a series lead but also reinforce the belief that they can still make a strong push in the final stretch of the season. With Suarez on the mound and the potential return of Mullins, Baltimore is hoping to continue its resurgence and finish the series on a high note.