MLB Betting: Cole Faces Pirates For First Time

The struggling Houston Astros look to right the ship Tuesday night when they begin a three-game interleague series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Houston finally snapped a seven-game losing streak on Sunday with a 9-4 win over the New York Yankees. At home the Astros are 4-2 in their last six and hope to welcome back injured outfielder George Springer on Tuesday.

The Pirates have won four straight but have had trouble on the road lately. In their last 10 road games, they’re 2-8.

Tuesday’s scheduled pitching matchup is Trevor Williams (2-1, 4.12) for Pittsburgh and Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.54) for Houston.

Williams returned from the injured list in his last start and was pounded by the Detroit Tigers for seven runs on nine hits in five innings. The Pirates offense bailed him out and he posted a no-decision in an 8-7 Pittsburgh win as a -200 favorite at Bovada Sportsbook. This will be Williams’ first career start against Houston.

Cole is coming off a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds in which he allowed one run on eight hits in six innings. Houston lost 3-2 as a -200 road favorite at Bovada. Cole, who was traded from Pittsburgh to Houston in the winter of 2018, has never faced his former team.

Houston and Pittsburgh last met up in 2016 when the Astros took two of three from the Pirates, both as the underdog.

Snell has career ERA of 5.12 vs Minnesota

Also on tap Tuesday, reigning AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell (4-6, 4.40) will look to put the worst start of his career behind him when he leads the Tampa Bay Rays up against the Minnesota Twins.

Heading into Tuesday’s series opener, the Rays are struggling at 2-5 in their last seven and 4-9 in their last 13. The Twins have also hit a bit of a bump in the road lately at 3-5 in their last eight.

Snell’s last start was horrific, as he recorded only one out while getting crushed by the Yankees for six runs on two hits and four walks. The Rays lost 12-1 as a -120 favorite. In four career starts against Minnesota, Snell is 1-1 with a 5.12 ERA.

Opposing Snell for Minnesota will be Kyle Gibson (7-4, 4.18). Gibson faced the Rays on June 1 and recorded a win, allowing one unearned run on six hits over five innings. Minnesota won 6-2 as a +107 underdog.

The Twins and Rays faced off earlier this season in a four-game series and Minnesota took three of four, all as the underdog. In Minnesota, the Twins are 4-2 in their last six vs the Rays.