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

Phillies, Astros turn to top pitchers for interleague contest

The Astros and Phillies are set to face off in an interleague matchup at 4:05 PM ET. This one is being played at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, and the Astros are slight -108 favorites on the money line. The Phillies are -111, and the over/under line is 9.5 runs.

Spencer Arrighetti is starting for the Astros, and he is facing off against Taijuan Walker. The Astros are 1st in the AL West, while the Phillies are 1st in the NL East. Walker’s Phillies have won four straight, while the Astros have dropped two in a row.

Houston vs. Philadelphia Key Information

• Teams: Astros at Phillies
• Where: Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia
• Date: Wednesday, August 28th
• Betting Odds PHI -111 | HOU -108 O/U 9.5

The Astros Can Win If…

Houston is sending Spencer Arrighetti to the mound today vs. the Phillies, and he comes in with a record of 6-11 and an ERA of 4.94. Arrighetti has made 23 starts this year and has pitched well lately, going 2-1 in his last three outings. In his most recent start, he pitched six scoreless innings, picking up the win and giving up just three hits. Looking at his overall numbers, Arrighetti has a WHIP of 1.41 and is averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. For the season, he has allowed 17 homers and is averaging 4.09 walks per nine innings.

Yordan Alvarez has been a big power threat for the Astros this season, as his 25 homers is 1st on the team and 11th in the league. Alvarez is also 2nd on the team in RBIs, with 67. He is batting .305 for the season and has a very strong on-base percentage of .394. Alex Bregman has 21 homers this season, which is 2nd on the team, but he is just 7/31 in his last seven games.

The Astros come into the game with the 3rd best team batting average in the league at .260. Overall, they are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 12th in the league. Houston has been a good home run hitting team this season and are also near the top of the league in terms of fewest strikeouts per game.

• The Astros are 4-6 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 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Astros have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Astros are 6-4
• Looking back across the Astros last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Houston has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Astros have averaged 4.2 runs per game on offense

The Phillies Can Win If…

Right-hander Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Phillies today as he faces the Astros at home. Walker has made 13 starts this year and has a record of 3-5 with a 6.26 ERA. His WHIP for the season is 1.58. Walker has turned in just two quality starts this year and is coming off a rough outing against the Royals, where he gave up six earned runs in three innings of work. In that outing, he gave up two homers. Walker has allowed at least one homer in each of his last four starts.

Philadelphia comes into today’s game as one of the league’s top-scoring offenses, averaging 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per game, which is the 2nd best mark in the league. Overall, the Phillies are 8th in home runs and have the league’s 4th best team batting average.

Over his last four games, J.T. Realmuto has gone 8/17 with two homers and seven RBIs. Nick Castellanos has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 7/21 with two homers over his last five games. Castellanos also comes into the game on a five-game hitting streak.

• The Phillies are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Phillies are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Philadelphia has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Phillies have an average of 6.8 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 4-1
• 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

Our lean for a money-line pick in this Astros vs. Phillies matchup is to take the Phillies to come out on top. We are also leaning towards the under, as this is our 8th lowest projected scoring game of the day. Looking at the starters for this matchup, we have Taijuan Walker as our highest projected innings eater of the day, and he has the 5th best odds to pick up a win.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros are set to reignite their rivalry, with each team sending one of their top pitchers to the mound in what promises to be a thrilling three-game interleague series. Both clubs, boasting powerful lineups and strong pitching staffs, are eager to secure crucial victories as the regular season winds down.

Pitching Duel: Blanco vs. Wheeler

Houston Astros: The Astros will rely on Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.14 ERA) to deliver a bounce-back performance after a tough outing against the Boston Red Sox. In his last start, Blanco struggled, lasting just 3 2/3 innings and allowing a season-high five earned runs while walking four—a rarity for the right-hander. Despite this setback, Blanco remains physically strong and is determined to regain his form.

“Physically, I feel really strong, which is the most important thing,” Blanco commented through an interpreter. “I’m trying to go out there and compete.”

Blanco, who hasn’t recorded a win since July 9, faces a formidable challenge in this game, particularly against the Phillies’ potent offense.

Philadelphia Phillies: On the other side, Zack Wheeler (12-6, 2.73 ERA) will take the mound for the Phillies. Wheeler, a top contender for the National League Cy Young Award, has been dominant recently, allowing two runs or fewer in nine of his last ten starts. Despite a solid performance in his last outing, where he gave up two runs over six innings, Wheeler took the loss against the Atlanta Braves.

“I’d rather go seven (innings),” Wheeler said. “That’s my goal every time. Six is also good, but I also let up two runs. We lost the game. These are important games, and we need to win. We have to just keep that momentum going.”

Wheeler’s consistency has been a cornerstone for the Phillies as they push towards the postseason, and his ability to shut down opposing lineups will be key in this series.

Momentum Leading into the Series

Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies enter the series with significant momentum after dominating the Kansas City Royals in their previous series, outscoring them 26-6 over three games. The offensive explosion was a much-needed boost after a disappointing showing against the Braves.

Manager Rob Thomson praised his team’s renewed approach at the plate: “We got our approach back. Not trying to do too much. Pass the baton. Eliminate chase as much as you can. I thought our at-bats were really good.”

Key players like Kyle Schwarber and Garrett Stubbs led the charge, with Schwarber driving in three runs and Stubbs collecting a career-high four hits in the series finale. The Phillies’ offense seems to be clicking at just the right time, making them a formidable opponent for any pitching staff.

Houston Astros: The Astros, meanwhile, had an up-and-down series against the Baltimore Orioles, managing a split in the four games. After a dominant 6-0 victory in the opener, they dropped two close contests before bouncing back with a 6-3 win in the finale. Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz were instrumental in the victory, hitting back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning.

Bregman, who has been working his way back from an elbow injury, was pleased with his performance: “The swing felt the best it’s felt since coming back. Obviously, missing some time, you lose a little bit of the rhythm you have.”

The possible return of slugger Yordan Alvarez (neck injury) could further bolster the Astros’ lineup, adding another layer of intrigue to this highly anticipated matchup.

A Look Back: 2022 World Series Rematch

This series also serves as a rematch of the 2022 World Series, where the Astros claimed the title in six games. The Phillies will undoubtedly be looking for redemption, having taken two of three from the Astros in last season’s regular-season meetings. This year’s series is their only encounter, making it all the more significant as both teams jockey for playoff positioning.

Game 1 Recap: Harper’s Heroics Lead Phillies to Victory

In a thrilling opener, Bryce Harper delivered in the clutch with a walk-off single in the 10th inning, lifting the Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Astros. Harper’s ground ball into right field off reliever Josh Hader (6-7) secured the win after Kyle Schwarber scored as the automatic runner.

Phillies reliever Matt Strahm (6-2) was stellar, keeping the Astros scoreless in the top of the 10th inning. Strahm struck out Alex Bregman and induced a groundout from Yordan Alvarez before center fielder Johan Rojas made a diving catch on a liner by Yainer Diaz to preserve the tie.

Both starting pitchers were effective despite not factoring into the decision. Zack Wheeler pitched six innings for the Phillies, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out six. Ronel Blanco was solid for the Astros, giving up two runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, with five strikeouts.

The Astros took the lead in the fourth inning with a two-run double by Shay Whitcomb. However, the Phillies responded in the fifth with a solo home run from Brandon Marsh, followed by Nick Castellanos’ game-tying single in the sixth, setting the stage for Harper’s late-game heroics.

Key Players and Performances

Bryce Harper led the way for the Phillies, collecting two hits and the game-winning RBI. Trea Turner and Bryson Stott also contributed with two hits apiece. For the Astros, Alex Bregman notched two singles, while Yordan Alvarez returned to the lineup with a hit and a walk after missing three games.

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Series

As the series progresses, both teams will look to their star players and deep rosters to gain an edge. The Phillies’ offense is heating up at the right time, while the Astros are bolstered by the return of key players like Alvarez. With playoff implications on the line, every game in this series is crucial.

Expect more close games, as both teams have demonstrated resilience and the ability to come through in clutch situations. The series not only has the intensity of a regular-season matchup but also the flavor of a postseason showdown, making it a must-watch for baseball fans.

Take your MLB handicapping to the next level with our expert MLB handicappers