Today's Pick: HOU (-150) over PIT

You have to like Framber Valdez every time he takes the ball.  The 31 year old lefty out of the Dominican Republic enters with a pedestrian record of 5-4 but with only 2.91 runs per game in run support, it's not all that bad of a record.  

Valdez has pitched well all season but over his last five he has been real good, averaging seven innings per start while posting a 1.70 ERA and a 4.0 K/BB ratio.   Valdez works with three plus pitches:  a sinker, curveball and a change up, and gets a lot of ground balls.

Mitch Keller starts for Pittsburgh.  Keller has also pitched well in May, a 2.90 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over his last five has been some of the 29 year old righty's best work.  Keller's calling card is his sweeper, it's one of the league's best, but his fastball and sinker are average offerings.  Opponents have hit .250 off the four seamer and .300 off the sinker.  

There aren't many flaws to pick on with Keller.
There are no significant splits working in the Astro's favor.  This pick is on Framber Valdez and the Astros having a better lineup than Pittsburgh. 

The Astros have both Hader and Abreu rested.  David Bednar and Braxton Ashcraft both threw 20+ pitches last night for the Pirates.  

It should be a good game, I like the price at (-150), I don't think the Pirates are a good hitting team and a night of Valdez, Abreu and Hader should shut them down.  

Today's Pick:  HOU (-150) over PIT
Units in Play:  2.48
Units Wagered:  2.48
Ticket Pays:  4.13 units (+1.65 units)
Current Streak: 2
Longest Streak:  6

Total Units Wagered (Season):  49.76 units
Current Bank Balance:  29 units
Beginning Bank Balance:  40 units
Total Units Raked (season):  11 units
Profit / Loss (season):  Even
Overall Record:  23-10

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