Day: August 15, 2023

Houston Astros VS Miami Marlins continue their three-game series in Miami tonight. The Astros are on the trail of Texas which is first place in the AL West Division while the Marlin are dropping to the bottom in the East Division.

The match will feature Houston’s Cristian Javier (8-2, 4.36) facing Miami’s Johnny Cueto (0-3, 5.33). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm EST.

Find the MLB best bets today, picks, and odds for Marlins VS Astros on MatchPlug. We are one of the Best sports betting sites for MLB match previews.

Predictions and Betting Preview For Miami Marlins VS Houston Astros MLB Regular Season

• Venue: LoanDepot Park, Miami, Florida.
• When: Tuesday, August 15th, 2023
• Time: 23:40 GMT
• Teams to play: Miami Marlins and Houston Astros.
• MLB Expert Picks: MONEYLINE 1.845.

Odds by 1XBet and BetMGM.

Betting On The Miami Marlins

• 1XBet Spread: +1.5
• 1XBet Moneyline: 2.113
• 1XBet Over/Under: Over 8.5
• BetMGM Spread: +1.5
• BetMGM Moneyline: 2.05
• BetMGM Over/Under: Under 9

The Miami Marlins have fallen on difficult times in the month of August and have fallen off a pace that had them ticketed for the playoffs at the All-Star break. Since then, they have gone only 9-18 plus just 5-7 this month. 

They rebounded over the weekend against the New York Yankees. After they dropped the opener, Miami won each of the next two matches as they fight to stay in the NL Wildcard race. On Monday night against Houston, Braxton Garett pitched five shutout innings and the Marlins delivered three solo home runs in a 5-1 series-opening win.

Johnny Cueto will pitch for the Marlins tonight. Cueto is 0-3 in six appearances, including five starts. Cueto has allowed 20 hits in 27 innings pitched since joining Miami’s rotation and has an ERA of 5.33. He has a K/9 rate of 7.7 and a WHIP of 1.00 in his six appearances this season. Johnny has gone 6 innings in 3 of his 4 starts so far, so he can get the team to the latter half of their bullpen.

Betting On The Houston Astros

• 1XBet Spread: -1.5
• 1XBet Moneyline: 1.845
• 1XBet Over/Under: Under 8.5
• BetMGM Spread: -1.5
• BetMGM Moneyline: 1.80
• BetMGM Over/Under: Over 9

Houston Astros appeared to have gotten the team back together again at the trade deadline when they signed for their 2022 ace Justin Verlander from the Mets. Verlander again gave the Astros a deadly one-two punch at the top of the rotation with Framber Valdez.

The Astros are closing on on first-place Texas Rangers with only over a month and a half to go in the season. They enter this series after taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels in Houston over the weekend. On Monday night with Valdez taking the mound, their bats won 5-1. He went 7.2 innings and permitted six hits and three earned runs in the loss.

Cristian Javier will start for Houston in game two of the series vs. Miami. Javier is 9-8 in 22 starts this season including nine quality starts. Javier has permitted 102 hits in 117.2 innings pitched with an ERA of 4.36. He has a K/9 rate of 8.4 and his WHIP is 1.22. He is 1-1 in his last five starts with an ERA of 4.44 alongside 28 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. On the road this season, he is 4-1 with an ERA of 5.17. Javier has struck out 66 batters in 69.2 innings on the road.

MatchPlug Prediction

The Miami Marlins have been a great team hitting against lefties but have not been as effective against righties this season. As a team, they are hitting .250 and slugging only .387. Javier can be electric sometimes and will keep Miami’s lineup in check tonight. They are hitting .254 as a club since the All-Star break too.

Houston is 64 in their previous 10 games entering this series and has been very good on the road this season. They are ten games over .500 in road matches this season and are actually scoring more away than at home. The Astros average over five runs per match on the road this season. Their lineup has started to round into form with Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve returning to the lineup on a regular basis.

Prediction: Houston Astros moneyline.

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MLB EXPERT PICKS: Cincinnati Reds VS Cleveland Guardians betting Predictions.

In Cincinnati Reds VS Cleveland Guardians, the Guardians will be on the road as they begin a three-game set with the Reds tonight. Cleveland won the final of their three-game series with the Tamp Bay Rays down in the Sunshine State, winning 9-2, on Sunday afternoon to avoid a sweep.

Cincinnati took two of three on the road from Pittsburgh as they split a doubleheader Sunday. They lost 4-2 in the opening game Sunday afternoon before scoring 6-5 in 10 innings in the nightcap. 

Last season, the clubs divided four meetings with the road team emerging victorious in each contest: the Reds took a pair in Cleveland May 17-19, 2022 in the most recent between the teams.

MatchPlug has the predictions, MLB Expert Picks, and odds for Reds VS Guardians. We are a Hot Prediction site for the best MLB match previews.

Predictions and Betting Preview for Cincinnati Reds VS Cleveland Guardians MLB Regular Season

• Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio.
• When: Tuesday, August 15th, 2023
• Time:  23:40 GMT.
• Teams to play: Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians.
• MLB Expert Picks: MONEYLINE 1.92.

Odds by 1XBet and BetMGM.

Betting On The Cincinnati Reds

• 1XBet Spread: +1.5
• 1XBet Moneyline: 1.92
• 1XBet Over/Under: Over 9.5
• BetMGM Spread: +1.5
• BetMGM Moneyline: 1.87
• BetMGM Over/Under: Under 9.5

Cincinnati Reds took two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend but still enter today’s series losers of their past 12 games after splitting a doubleheader Sunday. The Reds entered Monday 62-58 and were tied for second in the NL Central, 3.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot. They were half a match behind the Miami Marins for the final wild-card spot in the National League. In the opening game of the doubleheader on Sunday, Spencer Steer had three hits, while Matt McLain (run, RBI) added two in a losing effort.

Cincinnati was two of 15 with runners in scoring position in that game. Brandon Williamson threw 5.2 innings, permitting one run on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Alex Young (4-1) permitted two runs on one hit with one walk and no strikeouts in one inning of relief. Henry Ramos (run, RBI) had three hits while Elly De La Cruz (run, RBI) added a pair, including his 10th of the season. Luke Weaver threw 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout. Daniel Duarte worked the 10th, allowing no runs on no hits with no walks and a strikeout, for his first save.

Graham Ashcraft takes the hill for the Reds today, making it his 23rd start of the season for the Reds in this contest. He enters the match 6-7 with a 4.95 ERA, a 1.408 WHIP, 46 walks and 88 strikeouts over 120 innings of work on the season. The last time Ashcraft started was when he faced Miami on Wednesday night. He threw seven innings and permitted one run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in a game the Cincinnati later dropped 5-4.

In his last three starts, Graham is 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP, three walks and 14 strikeouts over 21 innings of work. He is in his 42nd career major league start, and pitches against Cleveland for the first time in this outing. This contest will be his 24th career start.

Betting On The Cleveland Guardians

• 1XBet Spread: -1.5
• 1XBet Moneyline: 2.023
• 1XBet Over/Under: Under 9.5
• BetMGM Spread: -1.5
• BetMGM Moneyline: 1.95
• BetMGM Over/Under: Over 9.5

Cleveland Guardians won for the third time in nine games, downing the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of their road series on Sunday afternoon. They improved to 57-62 and entered Monday second in the AL Central, 4.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the top position in the division. The Guardians were 8.5 matches behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final wild-card spot in the American League playoff picture.

On Sunday, Andres Gimenez (two runs, two RBI) got four hits for the team while Oscar Gonzalez (run, two RBI) contribute three to lead a 15-hit charge. Gimenez (his 11th) and Gabriel Arias (his sixth) each homered in the win for the Guardians. Tanner Bibee (9-2) earned the win as he threw seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

Logan Allen has been chosen by the Guardians, as he makes his 18th start of the season in this contest. He enters the game 5-5 with a 3.55 ERA, a 1.369 WHIP, 35 walks and 88 strikeouts over 91.1 innings of work this season. Allen lost in his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays at home Wednesday night. He threw five innings, permitting one run on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in a game they lost 1-0.

Over his last three starts, Allen is 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP, 10 walks and 12 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. He is in his 18th career major league start, pitching against Cincinnati for the first time in this contest.

MatchPlug Prediction

Since August began, both clubs have been slacking, putting them at the back in their respective chase of playoff berths. Ashcraft has pitched well lately and it is a known fact that Cincinnati can score runs, although they’ll need to be better at stopping the opposition from putting them on the board.

Cleveland has faced their issues at the dish this campaign and Allen comes in after dropping three of his last four starts. The team struggled on the road this season, posting a 26-34 mark, and Logan has recorded only two quality starts in eight road outings. 

The Reds get the slim edge in this contest as they have the better-producing lineup offence-wise.

Prediction: Cincinnati Reds Moneyline.

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MLB EXPERT PICKS: Miami Marlins VS Houston Astros betting Predictions.