Detroit Tigers vs Houston Astros Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 9/30/24, 9:32 PM  by Carlos Zabala | Modified on 9/30/24 at 9:46 PM in MLB Picks

Astros take on Tigers in first wild-card series of playoffs. Astros will be favored to win the first game with odds of up to -145, plus they won 4 of 6 games against the Tigers in the regular season.

It would be a mistake to underestimate this courageous Tigers team that made it to these playoffs when a few months ago many statistical sites estimated the chances of them seeing postseason baseball at just 0.2%.

Of course, experience in October games for the vast majority of Tigers players is almost nonexistent, while the Astros have become a frequent participant. However, AJ Hinch, the Tigers' manager does have experience in the postseason, and he said that in his opinion the manager's experience is more important than that of the players in such games.

The Astros are expected to go with Skubal for their opener, which would make for an interesting change in the odds if confirmed. But what is almost a given is that the Astros' starter will be Valdez, who has the second-most wins in a regular season this season with 15. Also, Valdez will want to make up for a bad last postseason where he put up bad numbers and couldn't prevent the Rangers from advancing to the World Series.