Blue Jays vs. Astros Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 4/23/2022

The Houston Astros (6-7) will try to end their three-game losing streak when they host the Toronto Blue Jays (9-5) on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET. Sportsbooks consider the Blue Jays to be -123 favorites for the contest, while the Astros are +103 underdogs looking for the upset. Toronto’s Alek Manoah gets the start, and he’ll go against Houston’s Jose Urquidy.

Blue Jays vs. Astros Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Blue Jays vs. Astros

Our computer pick: Houston Astros (+103) and Over (8.5)

Blue Jays vs. Astros Game Info

• Toronto Blue Jays probable starting pitcher: Alek Manoah
• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: José Urquidy
• Game Day: Saturday, April 23, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Toronto Blue Jays vs Houston Astros Pitching Matchup

Blue Jays Starter Alek Manoah

• Manoah (2-0) takes the mound for the Blue Jays to make his third start this season.
• In his last appearance on Sunday, the righty threw 6 2/3 innings against the Oakland Athletics, allowing two earned runs while surrendering four hits.
• In two appearances this season, he has a 1.50 ERA and 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings, while opponents are batting .128 against him.
• Manoah is seeking his third straight quality start.
• Manoah will look to build upon a three-game streak of lasting five or more innings (he’s averaging 6.0 frames per outing).
• The opposing Astros offense has a collective .200 batting average, and is 25th in the league with 85 total hits and 21st in MLB action with 44 runs scored. It has the 19th-ranked slugging percentage (.347) and ranks sixth in home runs (14) in all of MLB.

Astros Starter José Urquidy

• The Astros will send Urquidy to the mound for his third start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he threw 4 2/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners, giving up six earned runs.
• He has an ERA of 7.00, a 4 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.444 in two games this season.
• Urquidy has made one start of five or more innings in two chances this season, and averages 4.2 frames when he pitches.
• The Blue Jays rank seventh in MLB with a .250 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks fourth in the league (.412) and 18 home runs.

Blue Jays Betting Picks & Insights

• The Blue Jays have won six of the eight games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Toronto has a record of 5-2 when favored by -123 or more by oddsmakers this season.
• Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Blue Jays have a 55.2% chance to win.
• Toronto’s games have gone over the total in four of their 13 chances.
• The Blue Jays are 7-6-0 against the spread in their 13 chances this season.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have come away with two wins in the four contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• Houston has been listed as an underdog of +103 or more on two occasions this season and won both games.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Astros have a 49.3% chance of pulling out a win.
• Houston’s games have gone over the total in five of their 13 opportunities.
• The Astros have an against the spread record of 5-8-0 in 13 games with a line this season.

Blue Jays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the Blue Jays with five home runs and 11 runs batted in, while racking up a team-high batting average of .320.
• Among all hitters in MLB, Guerrero’s home run total places him second, and his RBI tally ranks him eighth.
• Matt Chapman is hitting .271 with three doubles, two home runs and five walks.
• Chapman is 40th in homers and 23rd in RBI among all hitters in baseball.
• Chapman has four straight games with at least one hit. During his last five outings he is hitting .333 with two doubles and three RBI.
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is batting .269 with three doubles and three walks.
• George Springer is batting .265 with four doubles, two home runs and two walks.
• Springer has recorded at least one hit in two games in a row. During his last five outings he is hitting .154 with an RBI.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Alex Bregman has collected a team-leading nine runs batted in.
• Among all batters in MLB, Bregman is 40th in homers and 23rd in RBI.
• Jeremy Pena has a club-best .286 batting average.
• Among all MLB hitters, Pena ranks 40th in home runs and 129th in RBI.
• Yordan Alvarez has three home runs, tops in the clubhouse.
• Michael Brantley has two doubles, a home run and four walks while hitting .265.

Betting Tips for Blue Jays vs. Astros

Our best bet is the Astros on the moneyline at +103 after analyzing all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer projects the scoring will over the total of 8.5 runs.