Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants Predictions, Betting Odds, Picks

• Matchup of the aces
• Two best teams in baseball square off
• X-factors to watch

Dodgers vs Giants Odds

The odds for the Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants are provided by DraftKings. Get a $1000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings.

Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants Picks

The numbers in this game are weird. Houston can score on anyone, but nobody has scored on Gausman. But the main thing we’re watching is San Francisco’s offense. They’ve scored two runs or fear in three of their past four games. We’re going to go with the Astros money line.

Pick: Astros money line (-140)

Garcia’s 2021 record: (38-35-2)

Astros vs Giants Betting Trends to Watch (as of 7.30)

• Astros are 10-3 in their last 13 road games vs. a right-handed starter
• Astros are 8-3 in their last 11 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5
• Astros are 47-18 in their last 65 games following an off day
• Astros are 13-5 in their last 18 road games
• Astros are 36-16 in their last 52 overall
• Astros are 3-7 in their last 10 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record
• Astros are 2-7 in their last 9 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter
• Over is 5-0 in Astros last 5 vs. a team with a winning record
• Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. National League West
• Under is 20-6-2 in Astros last 28 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter
• Under is 7-3 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings
• Astros are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings
• Giants are 8-1 in their last 9 Friday games
• Giants are 9-2 in their last 11 interleague home games
• Giants are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record
• Over is 8-3 in Giants last 11 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record

How to Watch Astros vs Giants

Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants Predictions

Battle of the Aces

He might be coming off of his worst start of the season, but Kevin Gausman will take the rubber for San Francisco in game one of this series between the best team in each league and the Giants have to feel very good about that.

Houston will counter with its own surprise ace — Framber Valdez — to kick off what some are thinking might be a World Series preview.

Starting with Gausman, he got tattooed last Saturday (by the Pirates of all teams) to the tune of six earned runs in 4.1 innings, allowing a season-high eight hits and four walks.

That ballooned his ERA to 2.21 (5th in MLB) he was previously the leader before his last outing. Still, he ranks near the tops with his 9-4 record (T-11th), 140 strikeouts (10th), and 0.92 WHIP (6th).

Valdez meanwhile didn’t make his first start of the season until the final week of May but has been solid from the moment he touched the mound this year. Valdez is 6-2 overall with a 2.97 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 66.2 innings across 11 starts.

The Astros are 8-2 in Valdez’s last 10 starts, so much like San Francisco, they have reason to like their chances Friday.

World Series Preview?

Both teams enter the series feeling good about themselves, as they have all year. San Francisco just took two of three from Los Angeles and Houston has won its last three series, including the past two against divisional foes.

The Giants have relied on a dominant pitching staff to lead the way — ranking first in WHIP (1.12), third batting average against (.221) and ERA (3.34) and seventh in quality starts (43).

Houston meanwhile has done it with the best offense in all of baseball — and it’s not even close. The Astros pace all teams in runs scored (562), batting average (.267), on-base percentage (.342) and slugging percentage (.439).

The last question now is how will these teams try to get better at the deadline? The World Series — until proven otherwise — will go through the Dodgers and they just pulled off a blockbuster deal. Houston acquired a closer, but the Giants could use another bat and the Astros could maybe use one more arm.

There’s just a few hours left so we’re about to find out.

X-Factors to Watch

The man in Houston we’re watching even closer than normal is Carlos Correa. He’s had a wonderful last week, hitting .304 (7-of-23) with three doubles and five RBIs.We will see if that gets him going in a month that has been cold over all — he’s hitting just .182 in July.

For the Giants, it’s Mike Yastrzemski who we’re going to highlight. He’s been cold the past week — just 2-of-20 the past six games with a .136 OBP. He’s now hitting a disappointing .227 on the season. If he could somehow get things turned around, it will make San Francisco even more dangerous.