A key battle on the MLB odds menu sees visiting Pittsburgh duelling Houston on Thursday at Minute Maid Park.

AJ Burnett gets the ball in front of a hostile crowd for the Pirates on this day; he's 11-3 on the season. The Astros, meanwhile, will counter with Dallas Keuchel, who will be looking to improve on his 1-2 mark.



View Pittsburgh vs Houston Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook MLB line for this matchup, Houston sat as +145 underdogs. The total was set at 8.5.

Power Rankings:
The Astros - Pirates odds would favor the Pirates if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Houston is rated No. 16 in the current National League Odds Shark poll, while Pittsburgh is at No. 12 in the National League.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Houston's No. 13-rated National League offense, averaging 3.8 runs per game, against a Pirates defense that ranks No. 3 in the National League at 3.7 in runs allowed per game. The Astros have averaged 8.1 hits per game so far, more than Pirates batters have averaged on the year (8 hits per game).

Defensively, Pittsburgh features the National League's No. 12-rated defense on the road, allowing 4.8 runs per game. Houston, meanwhile, comes in at No. 7 in the National League at home, scoring 4.2 runs per game.

Pittsburgh won its last outing, a 3-2 result against the Cubs on July 25. Bettors who backed the Pirates at -133 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (5) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window. The Pirates grabbed a win last time out, defeating Ryan Dempster and the Cubs 3-2 on Wednesday at PNC Park.

Last time out for Houston, they were a 5-3 loser as they battled the Reds at home. Moneyline bettors who got the Reds at -142 were rewarded, while the 8 combined runs moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Houston looks to rebound from a loss to the Reds, who beat them 5-3 on Wednesday behind a start from Homer Bailey at Minute Maid Park.


Pittsburgh Pirates Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Houston are 5-5
After playing Chi Cubs are 6-4
After a win are 6-4

Houston Astros Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Pittsburgh are 2-8
After playing Cincinnati are 4-6
After a loss are 1-9

A few Pirates at Astros trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Houston is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games at home


Next up:
Pittsburgh at Houston, Friday, July 27