Aug 24, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) reacts after striking out to end the third inning against the Houston Astros at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
- The Houston Astros visit the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday Night Baseball on August 25
- Yusei Kikuchi will make his fifth start for the Astros against Dean Kremer for the O’s
- See the Astros vs Orioles predictions, player-prop pick, and best odds for Sunday Night Baseball tonight
A battle between to AL Pennant contenders takes the spotlight on Sunday Night Baseball this evening when the Houston Astros (69-60, 34-31 away) visit the Baltimore Orioles (76-55, 39-29 home) finish off a four-game series at Camden Yards at 7:10 pm ET.
After winning the last two against Houston, the Orioles are back within half of a game of the Yankees at the top of the AL East – and hold a three-game lead on the first AL Wild Card – entering play on Sunday. Despite back-to-back losses, the Astros still hold a 4.5-game lead on the Mariners in the underwhelming AL West, where Houston is the only team over .500.
With Yusei Kikuchi toeing the rubber for the visitors against Dean Kremer for the O’s, the Astros are listed as slight favorites at most sportsbooks in Sunday’s MLB odds, but the game is a veritable pick’em on the moneyline.
Houston Astros vs Baltimore Orioles Predictions
- Orioles moneyline (-104) at FanDuel
- Kikuchi under 6.5 Ks (-156) at FanDuel
- Over 8.0 runs (-118) at DraftKings
Kikuchi has been rock-solid since joining the Astros from the Blue Jays. He’s managed to go at least 5.1 innings in each of his first four starts and hasn’t surrendered more than two runs in any game, while piling up 31 Ks in just 22.1 innings. He’s lowered his ERA from 4.75 to 4.37 since the trade.
But there is ample cause for concern heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Orioles. The Baltimore lineup has hammered Kikuchi over his career; in 136 total ABs, they have a .294/.368/.566 slashline with a .935 OPS, including ten home runs, led by four from Ryan Mountcastle. Kikuchi did manage to quiet the Baltimore bats last time he faced them, though, allowing just one run on four hits and a walk with six Ks over 6.0 innings on June 6 while still with the Blue Jays.
It’s also unclear if Mountcastle is going to be in the lineup on Sunday. He missed Friday and Saturday’s games – 7-5 and 3-2 Baltimore victories – with a wrist injury.
Baltimore starter Kremer has a much smaller sample size against the Astros, but it’s also more favorable to the pitcher. Kremer has limited the current Astros hitters to a .258 average and .722 OPS in 62 ABs, allowing just two homers (Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz). Kremer has also been borderline phenomenal over his last two starts, allowing just one run in 6.0 innings in both with 10 Ks total. This will be his first start of the season against Houston.
Ultimately, I like the price on Baltimore to win at almost even-money. The O’s have been one of the best home teams in baseball all season (only the Phillies and Dodgers have more home victories) and, on paper, they aren’t at a significant disadvantage in the pitching matchup.
I have listed my three favorite picks above, but bettors can also go after a same-game parlay with those three picks at FanDuel at a price of +375.
Yusei Kikuchi vs Dean Kremer
| 6-9 | Record | 6-9 |
| 4.37 | ERA | 4.30 |
| 4.03 | xERA | 4.94 |
| 1.29 | WHIP | 1.26 |
| 27.4% | K% | 21.9% |
Best Astros vs Orioles Odds for Aug. 25
The best price on the Houston moneyline is currently -110 at BetMGM while FanDuel has the best odds on a Baltimore victory at -104. Those sites also have the best runline odds at the moment, with BetMGM listing a multiple-run Houston victory at +150 and FanDuel pricing the Orioles +1.5 at -164.
Every sportsbooks save DraftKings has the over/under run total at 8.5, while DK is still offering the total at 8.0. The best odds on under 8.5 are currently at bet365 where the under is priced at -105.
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
The Houston Astros will be facing off against the Baltimore Orioles in a Sunday Night Baseball matchup on August 25th. Both teams are coming off of strong performances and will be looking to continue their winning streaks.
The Astros currently sit at the top of the American League West with a record of 82-47. They have been dominant all season long, boasting one of the best offenses in the league led by stars like Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and George Springer. Their pitching staff has also been solid, with Justin Verlander leading the way as one of the top pitchers in the league.
On the other hand, the Orioles have struggled this season and currently have a record of 41-86, sitting at the bottom of the American League East. Despite their struggles, they have shown flashes of potential with young players like Trey Mancini and John Means stepping up and making an impact.
In terms of player props, look for Jose Altuve to have a big game for the Astros. Altuve has been on fire recently and is hitting .308 with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs on the season. He has a good track record against Orioles pitching and could be a key player in this matchup.
As for predictions, the Astros are heavy favorites in this game and it’s easy to see why. They have a much stronger lineup and pitching staff compared to the Orioles. However, anything can happen in baseball and the Orioles could pull off an upset if they play their best game.
In terms of betting odds, the Astros are currently listed as -250 favorites to win the game, while the Orioles are sitting at +200 underdogs. The over/under for total runs scored is set at 9.5.
Overall, this Sunday Night Baseball matchup between the Astros and Orioles should be an exciting one to watch. With strong offenses on both sides, there could be plenty of runs scored in this game. Keep an eye on Jose Altuve and Trey Mancini as potential players to watch for standout performances. And when it comes to betting, the Astros are the safer bet to come out on top in this matchup.
