Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves 8/20/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Houston Astros play the second game of a three-game series on the road Saturday against the Atlanta Braves. Houston is 77-43 following its 21-5 rout of the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Alex Bregman hit two home runs and a pair of doubles while collecting six RBIs. Houston has won two straight and the Astros are leading the American League West by 11 ½ games over the Seattle Mariners. Make sure you check out all of our free MLB betting picks.

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is batting .297 to lead Houston and has team highs in home runs with 31 and on-base percentage at .401. Right fielder Kyle Tucker is the leader in RBIs with 80 and third baseman Alex Bregman is the leader in hits with 109. On Saturday, the Houston Astros will send Cristian Javier to the mound. The right-hander is 7-8 with a 2.96 ERA, 138 Ks and 39 BBs.

Atlanta improved to 73-47 following its 3-2 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday. Atlanta has won nine of the last 10 and the Braves won three of four from New York. The Braves’ Michael Harris II doubled in the go-ahead run during the seventh inning. Atlanta trails the first place Mets by 3 ½ games in the National League East. 

Shortstop Dansby Swanson's batting .292 to lead Atlanta and has a team-high 136 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 Jr is the leader in on-base percentage at .366. On Saturday, the Atlanta Braves will send Spencer Strider to the mound. The right-hander is 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA, 142 Ks and 35 BBs.