Houston pays a visit to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, hoping to shut down the Pirates bats in baseball action at PNC Park.

JA Happ gets the ball in front of a hostile crowd for the Astros on this day; he's 5-15 on the season. The Pirates, meanwhile, will counter with Brian Burres, who will be looking to improve on his 1-0 mark.



View Houston vs Pittsburgh Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Sportsbooks had set the Pirates as -145 favorites on the Sportsbook moneyline for this contest. The over under opened at 8.5 for bettors hoping to turn a profit on totals.

Power Rankings:
The Pirates - Astros odds would favor the Astros if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Pittsburgh is rated No. 16 in the current National League Odds Shark poll, while Houston is at No. 14 in the National League.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Pittsburgh's No. 13-rated National League offense, averaging 3.8 runs per game, against a Astros defense that ranks No. 16 in the National League at 4.9 in runs allowed per game. The Pirates have averaged 8.2 hits per game so far, less than Astros batters have averaged on the year (8.9 hits per game).

Comparing defensive stats, Houston owns the National League's No. 15-rated road mark, allowing 4.9 runs per game on the highway. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, rates No. 13 in scoring at home.

Houston was a 4-1 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against the Pirates. They won as +137 underdogs, while the total score of 5 made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. Houston looks to continue its winning ways following a victory last time out against the Pirates, a 4-1 final on Tuesday in support of Brett Myers at PNC Park.

Next up:
Houston at Washington, Friday, September 9
Pittsburgh home to Florida, Friday, September 9