Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves 8/19/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

On Friday, the Houston Astros open a three-game interleague series on the road against the Atlanta Braves. Houston is 76-43 following its 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The Astros have won five of the last seven overall. The Astros are first in the American League West, 11 games ahead of the second place Seattle Mariners.

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is batting .296  to lead Houston and has team highs in home runs with 31 and on-base percentage at .400. Right fielder Kyle Tucker is the leader in RBIs with 77 and second baseman Jose Altuve is the leader in hits with 106. On Friday, the Houston Astros will send Lance McCullers Jr to the mound. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 5 Ks and 4 BBs.

The Atlanta Braves dropped to 72-47 following a 9-7 loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday. However, Atlanta has won two of the first free games of its four-game series with the National East-leading Mets with the fourth game on Thursday.  Atlanta is second in the NL East, 4 ½ games behind the first place Mets, but a comfortable six games ahead of third-place Philadelphia.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson is batting .292 to lead Atlanta and has a team-high 135 hits. Third baseman Austin Riley is the leader in home runs with 30, while first baseman Matt Olson is the leader in RBIs with 79 and right fielder Ronald Acuna is the leader in on base percentage at .370. Atlanta has not announced its starting pitcher for Friday's opening game of a three-game series at home versus Houston.