Houston Astros (40-40) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (37-43)
Houston Astros vs. Toronto Blue Jays 7/1/24 – As July brings new excitement to MLB season, two evenly-balanced Houston Astros face the struggling Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 1, 2024 at 3:07 PM ET for an epic contest that promises plenty of surprises – fans and handicappers alike are closely following this clash to determine whether Houston can continue its recent momentum or if Toronto might turn things around, making this game one of many crucial handicapper predictions today.
At midseason, the Astros have found their footing, sporting an even 40-40 record and boasting an impressive recent run: five wins out of five matches this month alone! That shows they may have turned around some early season struggles; their offense boasting a solid.263 batting average and impressive slugging percentage at 421; this contributed to them collecting 94 homers and 367 runs so far; while pitching staff have maintained an acceptable 4.06 ERA/WHIP figure that indicates solid mound presence while their resilience on road and against spread indicates good strategy/coaching: both key aspects as they go into this matchup!
Conversely, Toronto Blue Jays have struggled throughout this season and currently possess a 37-43 record, recently experiencing several losses (1-4 in last five). Their team statistics reflect these challenges with a lower batting average (.233) and weaker slugging percentage (369); only managing to hit 69 homers against only 311 runs managed, well short of expectations at season start-off. Their pitching staff have not provided adequate compensation either with an ERA rating of 4.20 and 1.28WHIP that suggests difficulties controlling games from behind their mound.
Houston Astros vs. Toronto Blue Jays 7/1/24 Game Info
| When: | Monday, July 1, 2024 at 3:07 PM ET |
| Where: | Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON |
| TV: | |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Hunter Brown (5-5, 4.37 ERA) vs. Yariel Rodriguez (0-2, 5.94 ERA)
Hunter Brown of Houston brings with him an inconsistency that could prove key in this game: with 5-5 record and 4.37 ERA over 80.1 innings pitched, and striking out 89 batters against 32 walks while giving up 12 homers (in particular power hitters). Brown will set the tone for Houston going forward; so his performance in this contest could prove critical to its outcome.
Yariel Rodriguez has had a difficult season thus far with the Toronto Blue Jays, evidenced by his record and 5.94 ERA across 16.2 innings pitched so far. Control issues may provide Houston Astros batters an opening to exploit Rodriguez’s current form and take advantage. Toronto needs him to step up considerably if they hope to withstand Houston’s potency lineup.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
Betting odds have yet to be set in this matchup; however, given both teams’ recent performance, the Astros could likely become favorites and run totals could increase accordingly given both squads’ potential offensive production as well as Rodriguez pitching weaknesses.
Houston Astros Betting Trends
The Astros have shown consistently strong form against the spread, especially over their last five games, exceeding betting expectations while outpacing oddsmakers’ projections in four of those contests despite an overall.500 record, giving bettors confidence. It is important for bettors to focus on momentum instead of season-long statistics when placing bets.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends
The Blue Jays have had difficulty both outright and against the spread, suggesting they might struggle in meeting preseason expectations. Their better record on the road against the spread may not help much against an Astros team that appears to have found its form.
Houston Astros vs. Toronto Blue Jays 7/1/24 Betting Picks
Given both teams’ current trajectories, it appears as if the Astros will extend their winning streak. Their balanced attack and recent form indicates they could outwit Rodriguez on the mound to overpower his Blue Jay counterparts.
As part of today’s top free MLB analysis, consider Houston Astros to cover any applicable spread. Betting against total over may also be wise given both teams’ recent trends and pitching matchups; wait for official odds before making your call; however Houston appears to hold the advantage here.
Free Pick and Prediction: Houston Astros 7, Toronto Blue Jays 4.