On the evening of July 29, 2024, the Pittsburgh Pirates will go head-to-head with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, commencing at 8:10 PM under a clear sky. Paul Skenes, showcasing an impressive ERA of 1.929, will take the mound for the Pirates. In contrast, Jake Bloss, with an ERA of 6.943, will pitch for the Astros.

In the NL Central Division, the Pirates currently hold ninth place with a record of 53-52, reflecting a .500 winning percentage. They are third in their division based on 17 wins out of 32 divisional games. Their performance has been fairly strong recently, boasting six wins in their last ten games and riding a win streak of one. The Pirates have an evenly split home record of 26-26 and a slightly better away record of 27-26. They’ve scored 436 runs while allowing 446.

Conversely, in the AL West, the Astros are seventh with a 55-50 record and a .524 winning percentage, leading their division with 19 wins in 36 games. They’ve notched five wins in their last ten outings but are currently on a losing streak. With a stronger home record of 30-22 compared to their away performance of 25-28, the Astros have scored 492 runs and conceded 441.

In terms of betting odds for this matchup, the point spread is set at 1.5 in favor of the Astros, reflecting the competitive nature of this game. The over/under total is established at 7.5 runs, indicating expectations of a moderately high-scoring game. For moneyline bets, the Pirates are favored at -155, suggesting higher confidence in their victory, while the Astros are listed at +130, offering a reasonable return for an upset.