Indians at Astros 10/5/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Friday MLB playoff schedule will get underway with a matchup between the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros from Minute Maid Park. The Indians won 91 games during the regular season and ran away with the AL Central Division by 13 games. All-Star 3B Jose Ramirez led the team with 39 home runs and drove in 106 runs.

Thirty-two year old righty Corey Kluber (20-7 2.89 ERA) will take the mound for Cleveland in this matchup. Kluber ranked second in the American League with his 20 wins and third with a sparkling 0.99 WHIP. The defending World Series champion Houston Astros won 103 games during the regular season, which ranked second only to Boston. The Astros were 11 games above .500 at home on the year and finished with a major league best plus 263 run differential. All-Star 3B Alex Bregman led Houston with 31 home runs and 106 runs batted in.

2011 Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander (16-9 2.52 ERA) will get the nod for the Astros in the series opener. Verlander ranked first in the American League with 290 strikeouts and a 0.90 WHIP.