HOUSTON @ NY METS (HOU -120, 8.5)
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ASTROS VS. METS 6/28/24
One thing will be known when the New York Mets and Houston Astros take the field tonight. One of them will have a winning record by the end of the game, which was unthinkable at the beginning of the month. This series will pit the two hottest teams in baseball against one another to end June. The Mets will start left-hander Jose Quintana (3-5, 4.58 ERA) against Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco (8-2, 2.34).
Following their home sweep of a two-game interleague series on Wednesday night, both teams were off on Thursday. The Astros defeated the Colorado Rockies 7-1 to win their seventh consecutive game, while the Mets easily defeated the New York Yankees 12-2.
With the victories, the Astros (15-7 since June 1) and Mets (15-6 since June 1) kept their top records in baseball for the month and advanced farther in the postseason hunt. Houston is three games out of the final AL playoff berth, while New York is 1.5 games out of the third National League wild-card spot.
Houston crossed the break-even point for the first time this season, while New York hit .500 for the first time since it was 18–18 on May 7. The Astros were 15-14 in May after a 10-19 start. Houston’s goal was to play .500 baseball in May. Becoming a .500 club was the objective in June and now the Astros are there.
An offensive revival has been the driving force for both teams. With 135 runs scored so far this month, the Mets are leading the National League in runs scored. They have scored at least 10 runs in a game five times. Through May 31, a total of 57 games, New York managed 240 runs scored.
With 115 runs scored this month, the Astros rank fifth in the AL. They had a perfect five-game homestand, outscoring the Rockies and Baltimore Orioles 39–16.
In his most recent start on June 21, Quintana earned the victory as the Mets defeated the Chicago Cubs 11-1. He gave up an unearned run in 6.1 innings. In his ten career games (eight starts), he is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA against the Astros. He’ll go up against Blanco who pitched seven innings and gave up one run to earn a 5-1 win over the Orioles last Saturday.
FREE PICK: ASTROS-METS UNDER 8.5
Jose Quintana has a 4.58 ERA this season, but he’s coming off back-to-back quality starts and two wins. Plus, Quintana is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 8 starts against the Astros in his career. He’ll also pitch at home tonight, where his ERA is over a point lower. Ronel Blanco goes for the Astros and he’s 8-2 with a 2.34 ERA. Since giving up 4 ER in back-to-back starts, Blanco has three straight wins, three straight quality starts, and he’s allowed just 2 ER in his last 20 IP. Blanco’s last 8 straight starts have ended up Under the total. For the season, only 2 of Blanco’s 14 starts have gone Over.
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