Astros @ Yankees 5/6/21 Picks: Under 7.5 runs

The New York Yankees are on a hot streak as they take on the Houston Astros in the Bronx this afternoon. We provide a quick overview of the match and look to play the Total Runs market this afternoon. Odds are below along with some thoughts...

Usually when starting to prepare an article on a baseball game - your eyes get drawn to the pitching matchup first and foremost. On Thursday afternoon in the Bronx, we have an absolute stellar pair of Starting Pitchers set to take to the mound but how can we not start with the absolute torrid tear Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton is on?

Hitting .500 through a 11-game stretch since making some mechanical adjustments is good in itself. When you throw in the power numbers of five long balls - it has raised his batting average from a paltry .158 to .314. I know it is still early in the season but that is some improvement.

His recent good form at the plate has coincided with the Yankees’ best run of the season as they’ve won five of seven and are now only 1.5 games back of the AL East leading Boston Red Sox in the standings. Maybe all those who announced the team as a big disappointment with their hot takes need to remind themselves that the Major League Baseball season is really really long.

Now on to the pitching match-up. Lance McMullers Jr. (2-1 3.38 ERA) is coming off the back of his best start of the young season. Last week he held the Rays scoreless whilst throwing seven-innings of ball. He notched up a season-high nine strikeouts and he seems to be rounding into form nicely.

Facing him is presumed favorite for the AL Cy Young, Gerrit Cole (4-1 1.43 ERA). The right-hander has been extremely impressive so far in the 2021 campaign - his second in the Bronx. His 62 strikeouts in a calendar month is only second behind the great Ron Guidry - who struck out 64 in June of 1978.

All logic hints towards a low-scoring game and that is the line I’m looking to play as the number has been set at 7.5. Both games so far this series have been above this but we’ve not seen a matchup anywhere near this quality. This has a Pitchers Duel written all over it and with both pitchers having potential to go deep into the game - this one shouldn’t be left for the bullpens to take too many innings.

The Pick: Under 7.5 runs @ -113

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