Because the 2022 MLB regular season started a bit late, there are going to be some unique schedules going forward to make up for the seven games or so lost in the first week. One such game is Thursday night, as the Yankees visit the Astros in a rare one-game series and potential ALCS preview.

These teams played four games last weekend at Yankee Stadium and Houston probably should have swept, but lost Thursday’s game on a walk-off single by Aaron Judge after blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning and dropped the finale Sunday by squandering a two-run lead in the eighth. Judge’s three-run blast off Seth Martinez sent the Yankees to a 6-3 win and a split of the series.

In Friday’s game, Houston had a combined no-hitter and then on Saturday, Astros starter José Urquidy carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Giancarlo Stanton ended it with a tape-measure homer. The Yankees were held without a hit for 16 consecutive innings by Houston, which tied for the longest such streak in the expansion era (since 1961) with the 1981 Dodgers (vs. the Astros) and 1973 A’s (vs. the Rangers and Twins).

Nitrobetting is ready to lend a hand to its bettors with their winning bets to be shot out of the park. This time, let’s break down the upcoming matchup between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros, along with the latest MLB odds and information about the teams and players involved.

Yankees vs. Astros Game Information

Homestand Handled ✅#RepBX pic.twitter.com/E8thSartCR

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 29, 2022

• When: Thursday, June 30, 2022, 6:10 PM ET
• Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
• TV: YES, ATT SportsNet-SW, MLBN (out-of-market only)
• Radio: WADO 1280 (Yankees) / KBME 790 AM (Astros)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Yankees (-123) / Astros (+107)

READ MORE: Braves vs. Phillies MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – June 30th, 2022

Why bet on the New York Yankees?

It’s possible that Yankees All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman is activated from the injured list on Thursday but more likely Friday in Cleveland. Chapman was sharp Tuesday in what was likely his third and final rehab appearance in the minors. After making a couple outings with Double-A Somerset, he moved up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and struck out two over a scoreless inning. With Yanks manager Aaron Boone noting earlier this week that Clay Holmes has proven worthy of the closer’s role based on how he’s performed while Chapman has been out, Chapman could be eased back into the Yankees’ late-inning mix when he is back.

The Yankees are 17-6 (.739) in one-run games this year, the best such record in the majors. Seven of their last 15 games have been decided by one run. New York’s 21 wins are their most in the month of June since they went 21-12 in June 1964. The Yanks have won 22 games in the month of June just once in franchise history (went 22-10 in June 1961).

The Yanks may counter with Luis Severino (4-2, 3.38 ERA). The right-hander yielded three runs in six innings and struck out seven last Friday in a loss to the Astros. He kept Houston in check through five innings, but he returned for the sixth and served up a three-run homer to Kyle Tucker. Severino lost for just the second time in 13 starts, but is also just 1-2 in his last five. He carries a 3.38 ERA and has 87 strikeouts in 72 innings this season into Friday.

Why bet on the Houston Astros?

Houston is without former All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley, as he was placed on the injured list Tuesday. Brantley exited Sunday’s game vs. the Yankees with a shoulder issue, and he will now be out until at least July 7. The 35-year-old is batting .288 with five home runs and 26 RBI this season.

The Astros will start Luis Garcia (5-5, 3.68) in this one. Garcia was charged with three runs over five-plus innings last Wednesday in the Astros’ 5-3 win over the Mets. García yielded just a single run through his first five innings and had retired seven of the last eight batters he faced. In the sixth, though, he permitted a walk, an RBI double and then a single before being pulled with runners on the corners and no one out. A third run was charged to García’s ledger after his removal. The right-hander picked up 20 swinging strikes — easily a season high — on 83 pitches.

The 25-year-old Venezuelan starter is in his second full MLB season after finishing 2nd in the AL Rookie of the Year voting a year ago. He has been even better this season than in 2021, posting a lower WHIP (1.07), opponent batting average (.214), opponent OPS (.669) and walks per 9.0 ratio (2.41). Garcia has allowed three runs in 4.2 career innings vs. New York.

Yankees vs. Astros MLB Betting Trends

• Yankees are 6-0 in the last 6 Thursday games.
• Yankees are 14-2 in the last 16 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
• The total went under in 4 of NY Yankees’ last 6 games.
• Astros are 19-7 in the last 26 home games.
• Astros are 4-1 SU in the last 5 games.
• The total went under in 8 of Houston’s last 9 games played on a Thursday.

Yankees vs. Astros Betting Prediction

Yankees 5, Astros 4.

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