The Cleveland Indians have one of the better starting rotations in baseball, and it’s a good thing because the offense is still floundering. And thankfully for the Tribe they are in the mediocre AL Central, which gives them a chance to repeat as division champs if the bats start making contact with the baseball.
The finale of a four-game set between reigning division champs pits the Indians against the NL West favorite Houston Astros on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.
This MLB game between the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros will be held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 28, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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Odds Analysis
If the Indians could hit for a better average and score more than 3.8 runs per game, they could be running away with the AL Central. Instead, the lack of offense has them struggling every time they hit the field. They won the opener of this series, 2-1, behind a strong effort from Trevor Bauer and turn to Carlos Carrasco on Sunday.
You have to be good and lucky to win 10 games in a row, and Houston was just that when they put their streak together. Outside of that run, the Astros have been pretty bad. You’d think with a 10-game streak in the first month of the season that team would be cruising at the top of its division. Take away that streak and the Astros are just 5-10.
Probable Pitchers
A horrid start to the season put Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 6.00 ERA) in a deep hole, but he’s been solid of late with two scoreless starts, lowering his ERA from 12.60 to 6.00. Still, not where it should be, but the signs are encouraging. And the righty got more good news on the medical front.
A knee injury forced him out of his last start after four innings of two-hit ball against Miami. A MRI was negative and Carrasco is on track to make his scheduled start. And it’s a good thing since he’s allowed just five hits with 16 strikeouts over 11 innings pitched in his past two outings.
Journeyman Wade Miley (1-2, 3.58 ERA) has found a home thanks to some sparkling outings early in 2019. However, his stay in Texas could be short lived with a deal to pitch just this season. Miley is making the most of it, though. He retired the final 15 batters to end his last start, completing six innings and giving up three hits and three earned. He’s allowed three earned runs or less in 21 consecutive starts, which is the longest streak by a traditional starter.
With Dallas Keuchel a free agent, the Astros needed an arm to bolster the rotation, and Miley has fit in nicely. He’s also working on a one-year deal with plenty of incentives, so he should be seeing dollar signs against Cleveland’s light-hitting lineup.
Key Stat
They say the hardest thing to do in sports is hit a baseball. Well, the Indians are proving whoever ‘they’ are correct. The Tribe shed talent in the offseason by parting ways with Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes, Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso, leaving some holes to be filled. They haven’t been covered up yet and we’re a month into the season.
There must be something in Ohio that prevents the state’s big leaguers from hitting the baseball. The Indians’ .210 team batting average is the worst in the AL while Cincinnati is the only team with a lower average in the entire league at .200. It hasn’t prevented the Tribe from winning games, though. They are 14-10 following their 2-1 win over the ‘Stros in the series opener.
Free MLB ATS Picks
Which Carlos Carrasco shows up? That’s the big question in this Sunday night showdown. After getting rocked in his first three starts, the veteran righty settled down with 11 scoreless frames over his last two. An injury scare made for an early exit last time and how he fares coming off that is a concern. With Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa leading the way, the Astros have MLB’s best team batting average, though they rank 14th in runs scored. Get to the Indians pen and you have a better chance, and Carrasco isn’t going the distance. That gives the edge to the Astros.
MLB Pick: Houston Astros 4, Cleveland Indians 2
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