The Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at Oriole Park. The game at Camden Yards is set to start at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Houston (69-59 SU, 65-63 RL, and 51-73-4 O/U) will send left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to the mound. The 33-year-old veteran holds a record of 6-9 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP across 26 appearances this season.
Baltimore (75-55 SU, 72-58 RL, and 70-50-10 O/U) has yet to announce a probable starter for Sunday’s contest. If left-hander Cole Irvin cannot pitch on short rest, a bullpen game may be in store.
*Article published prior to the conclusion of Saturday’s game.
Astros Shine Bright in Evening Matches
The Astros managed to split the first two games of this series, falling 7-5 on Friday. They have shown impressive form this month, accumulating a 13-7 record, and are 19-13 since the All-Star break, allowing them to regain the lead in the A.L. West. The question remains: can they keep Seattle at bay, currently sitting 4.5 games behind?
Key players for Houston include left fielder Yordan Alvarez (.940 OPS and 4.0 WAR), shortstop Jeremy Pena (.729 OPS and 3.2 WAR), and second baseman Jose Altuve (.729 OPS and 3.2 WAR). The team ranks 10th in on-base percentage (.321) and 10th in OPS (.739), with a total of 152 home runs (11th). Their pitching staff has produced a solid 3.81 ERA (10th) and a 1.25 WHIP (15th).
Kikuchi will be on the mound for Houston on Sunday night. His most recent performance was against Boston, where he pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out seven. On the road, he has a record of 4-2 with a 4.27 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 12 starts. Against the Orioles this season, he has excelled, yielding just two runs with 15 strikeouts over 10.1 innings.
Orioles Struggle with Pitching Woes
Baltimore has faced challenges since the All-Star Game break, particularly in August, where they hold a 10-11 record. Their inconsistent performance has cost them valuable positioning in the A.L. East, with the New York Yankees now holding a 1.5-game advantage. The question is whether they can rally and make a push before the month ends.
Leading the Orioles are shortstop Gunnar Henderson (.921 OPS and 7.5 WAR), catcher Adley Rutschman (.745 OPS and 2.8 WAR), and right fielder Anthony Santander (.831 OPS and 2.7 WAR). The team ranks 11th in on-base percentage (.317) and 5th in OPS (.765), boasting an impressive 198 home runs (1st in the league). However, their pitching staff has struggled, with a 3.97 ERA (14th) and a 1.24 WHIP (11th).
This season, the Orioles have placed five starting pitchers on the injured list, three of whom are out for the remainder of the year. Recently, they demoted Trevor Rogers to Triple-A, further complicating their pitching situation. Regardless of who takes the mound on Sunday, they will face a significant challenge in keeping up with Kikuchi’s performance.
Betting Insights for Astros vs. Orioles
Kikuchi has managed to keep the Orioles at bay in their previous encounters this season, but the third matchup could tell a different story. Baltimore has notable career statistics against him, posting a .294 batting average, a .368 on-base percentage, and a .566 slugging percentage, including ten home runs and 26 RBIs over 136 at-bats. The Orioles have also performed well against left-handed pitchers throughout the season, maintaining a .258 batting average and a .772 OPS.
While Houston has been on a hot streak, the Orioles find themselves in a more desperate situation. New York has improved its performance in the second half of the season, with a favorable schedule ahead. It is reasonable to expect Baltimore’s lineup to step up and potentially secure a victory on Sunday night, despite their pitching struggles.
