MLB Odds – Can Astros Take Care of Pirates at Home?

Few MLB betting fans and observers thought that the Houston Astros, a proud franchise with at least some recent success, would ever find themselves looking up at the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that always seems to have the baseball betting odds against it every year because of their shortcomings as a franchise.

It seems as if the Pirates have been in rebuilding mode forever but they have been hovering around .500 to start the 2010 MLB season, beating the baseball betting odds and staying on top of the disappointing Houston Astros.

At game two of their three game series at home against the Pirates, the Astros desperately need a win to put the lesser franchise back into their place. Can they do it? Read on to find out.

Pittsburgh Pirates (Chris Jakubauskas, R) at Houston Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, R)

7:05 pm ET, Minute Maid Park
Saturday, April 24, 2010

Rodriguez was expected to have a big year according to many MLB fantasy players, but he has not made those owners happy as he has gone j ust 0-2 with an ERA of almost 5 thus far on the young 2010 MLB baseball season.

Rodriguez still has the stuff to put together a great game and shut down the Pirates; of course, he will have to do it on Saturday in Minute Maid Park which is widely regarded as a hitter’s ballpark.

The baseball betting odds are likely to favor the Astros in this one and for good reason: there are few signs that the slump Astros’ hitters are going through will be prolonged. Many of the guys struggling are solid career hitters and the averages will catch up soon.

Meanwhile, Jakubauskas is a green pitcher for the Pirates who just got the call-up from Triple-A.

He got all of his major league experience last year with the Mariners but didn’t fare well, posting an ERA above the 5 mark himself.

That means that the Astros, the likely MLB betting favorite, are a good bet to cover the baseball betting spread and win Saturday’s game at home.

They have the home field, pitching, and talent edges over the Pirates who should be MLB betting underdogs according to the odds, and for good reason.

MLB betting pick: Houston Astros > > JOIN NOW < <