New York Yankees vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Yankees to Face Astros in Season Opener, Showcasing Impact of Juan Soto in Batting Lineup

The New York Yankees and Houston Astros will kick off the 2024 MLB regular season with a game on Thursday. Last season, the Yankees finished 4th in the AL East, while the Astros won the AL West but fell short in the AL Championship Series. Nestor Cortes will start for the Yankees, coming off a 5-2 record with a 4.97 ERA in 2023. Framber Valdez, who had a 12-11 record with a 3.45 ERA last season, will take the mound for the Astros. Houston is the betting favorite at -150. If you want to increase your chances of winning, consider our Expert Picks.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Yankees +138 | Astros -150
• Spread: Yankees +1.5 (-153) | Astros -1.5 (+133)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 60%.

New York vs Houston Stats

New York Yankees

In the offseason, the New York Yankees made significant additions to their lineup, including slugger Juan Soto, to strengthen their team. Soto and Aaron Judge form a formidable one-two punch, supported by bounce back candidates such as Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, and Giancarlo Stanton. The outfield was reinforced with Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham, while Marcus Stroman was signed to bolster the starting rotation in the absence of Gerrit Cole. The team will have to rely on pitchers like Carlos Rodon and Clay Holmes to fill the void left by Cole's injury. With a current power ranking of 16, the Yankees are ranked 25th in offense, 10th in defense, and are yet to start the season with a record of 0-0.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros have consistently performed well in recent years, reaching the American League Championship Series or World Series for seven consecutive seasons. With Dusty Baker retiring, Joe Espada will now manage the team. Key players such as Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Yordan Alvarez, along with newcomer Josh Hader, are expected to lead the team to another successful season. The pitching rotation features talented pitchers like Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier, with Justin Verlander and Lance McCullers set to return from injuries later in the season. The bullpen is anchored by closer Josh Hader. Currently, the Astros have a power ranking of 8 and are ranked 5th in offense, scoring an average of 5.09 runs per game. Additionally, they have a strong defense, giving up an average of 4.34 runs per game. Their current record is 0-0, and they have recently defeated New York in their last three matchups.

Yankees Set to Showcase Impact of Juan Soto in Thursday's Game Against Astros

The New York Yankees will showcase the impactful addition of Juan Soto to their batting lineup in their upcoming game on Thursday. Despite the absence of Gerrit Cole, the team is expected to make a strong start against the Houston Astros, particularly by capitalizing on Framber Valdez as the opposing starting pitcher. Nestor Cortes, as the Yankees' opening day starter, may face some challenges against the Astros but is anticipated to perform well enough to secure a victory. With key players such as Soto, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, and Gleyber Torres, the Yankees are poised to dominate against Astros pitching, demonstrating the strength of their lineup this season. Although Houston boasts talented sluggers like Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker, the combination of solid pitching and exceptional slugging power on the Yankees' side is predicted to be the defining factor in Thursday's matchup.

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