MLB Daily Rankings August 24

• The Houston Astros continue to play well but Baltimore bats are .326 against the Astros starting pitcher on Saturday, Framber Valdez.
• Astros have the 10th-best team slugging percentage in the majors at .418.

Here are your MLB Daily Rankings for Thursday August 22, 2024.

1. Houston Astros
2. San Diego Padres
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Kansas City Royals
6. Minnesota Twins
7. New York Yankees
8. Baltimore Orioles
9. Cleveland Guardians
10. Milwaukee Brewers
11. Oaklamd Athletics
12. Chicago Cubs
13. Atlanta Braves

Astros @ Orioles

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Framber Valdez (13-5, 3.20 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 131 strikeouts); Orioles: Albert Suarez (6-4, 3.18 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 78 strikeouts)

Baltimore Orioles career statistics vs. Framber Valdez are quite good at .326.  Austin Slater is 6-or-9 against him but is not having the best season. Ryan Mountcastle is 5-for-12 against him with three RBIs and a home run.

Saturday's line"  Astros -128, Orioles +108; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

The Astros have the 10th-best team slugging percentage in the majors at .418.

TOP PERFORMERS: Adley Rutschman has 16 doubles, a triple, 18 home runs and 71 RBI for the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson is 9-for-37 with a double and four home runs over the last 10 games.

Yordan Alvarez has a .306 batting average to lead the Astros, and has 29 doubles, two triples and 25 home runs. Alex Bregman is 15-for-44 with five home runs and eight RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 5-5, .221 batting average, 4.39 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Astros: 6-4, .250 batting average, 2.60 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs.