Monday MLB: Yankees vs Astros

Hot Yankees Offense Faces Astros Vaunted Pitching

The Houston Astros and the New York Yankees meet on Monday at Minute Maid Park. The Yankees put an emphatic end to their early-season offensive malaise over the weekend. They put on a power display for the ages. After scoring just five times in their previous three games, the Yankees belted 14 homers and plated 29 runs in their last three games. It helped to gain a bit of momentum entering Monday's opener of a three-game series with the host Astros

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, YES (New York), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston); LINE: Astros -155; O/U: 8 Under -115.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (1-0, 1.46 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (1-0, 4.09)

Gary Sanchez clubbed three of New York's seven homers on Sunday. The team moved above .500 for the first time since its Opening Day win with a 15-3 shellacking of Baltimore. Clint Frazier belted a three-run homer in Saturday's 6-4 victory. He had two more blasts to cap a four-hit performance in the series finale versus the Orioles. Houston rebounded from losses in five of its previous six by scoring 15 runs en route to a sweep of Oakland. Jose Altuve has seven hits in his last four games. He drew a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of Sunday's 9-8 win.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Tanaka allowed just one earned run and did not walk a batter in his second straight start last time out for the Yankees. The Japanese star departed with a no-decision despite striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings against Detroit on Tuesday. Tanaka also left without a decision in his lone outing versus Houston last year despite registering a quality start. Carlos Correa (3-for-15, two homers, five RBIs) and George Springer (4-for-12, two homers, three RBIs) have enjoyed a little success against Tanaka. 2B Gleyber Torres is 8-for-15 with three homers, five RBIs and six runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.

Newly signed to a two-year contract extension worth $66 million, Verlander answered with a strong Opening Day start for the Astros. He then surrendered four runs on six hits in four innings of a no-decision at Texas last Tuesday. The 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award recipient will look to get back on track versus New York. He is 7-7 with a 3.49 ERA in 20 career starts against the "Evil Empire". Aaron Judge is 0-for-6 with three strikeouts versus Verlander. Sanchez is 1-for-6 with two strikeouts. 3B Alex Bregman is 11-for-20 during his six-game hitting streak. Springer has scored five runs during his six-game hitting streak.

Prediction: Astros 6, Yankees 2

MLB Betting Odds & Trends

New York Yankees
NY Yankees is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
NY Yankees is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 14 of NY Yankees's last 20 games
NY Yankees is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 10 of NY Yankees's last 11 games on the road
NY Yankees is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
NY Yankees is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston

Houston Astros
Houston is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games
Houston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Houston's last 11 games
Houston is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Houston is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
Houston is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing NY Yankees
Houston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
Houston is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing at home against NY Yankees

Next up:
New York at Houston Tuesday, April 9

Get a Signup Bonus of up to $1,000 at the Internets 1st and safest online sportsbook, Intertops