Top Major League Baseball Exposures July 4 - Houston Astros

The Houston Astros were seeing just shy of 70% of the public betting action as a -170 road favorite in Arlington, TX, a four hour drive from Houston.

Though ten games under the .500 mark, this is a Rangers team that has won seven of their last ten.  The bad news is that Houston has won the last seven games in this series, the last five away and two prior at home.  Texas had won the previous three meetings however.

Houston though is 16-5 in the last 21 meetings in Arlington.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (9-2, 2.50 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Mike Minor (6-4, 4.64)

Cole had his streak of seven straight victorious decisions end his last start against Tampa Bay. He has allowed just eight hits while going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 20 innings in three starts against the Rangers this season and is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four career outings.

Minor has won his last two starts and is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in nine career appearances (six starts) vs. Houston.

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com