The Philadelphia Phillies (86-73) face the Houston Astros (104-55) Monday in the 1st game of a 3-game set at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Phillies vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting since the 2017 season
The Phillies’ magic number to clinch the final NL wild-card spot is 1. It’s simple, Milwaukee has to win every game, and the Phillies just need to win 1 of the final 3 games. The Phils won 3 out of 4 against the Washington Nationals after a 5-game losing streak. It’s a brutal way to finish the season against the powerhouse Astros, but on the plus side, they’ll be battle-tested if they reach the postseason.
The Astros are 15-5 in the last 20 games and have nailed down had the top seed. They have been a bit streaky, though, as they’ve scored just 10 runs over the last 4 games. Houston will compete hard, but its main objective is leaving this series healthy.