The Houston Astros and the Milwaukee Brewers go head-to-head in an intriguing match-up this afternoon. Brandon Bielak will be on the mound for the Astros, while Adrian Houser will be pitching for the Brewers. A strikingly near-even split on FanDuel Sportsbook with Houston at -110 and the Brew Crew at -109, indicating a tough contest is in the offering. The total for this game is set at 9 after opening at 9.5.

The major question leading up to this game is – which Astros team will we see? Will it be the dominant force that racked up 12 runs two nights ago? Or will we see a repeat of the lineup that failed to scratch out a single run in a 6-0 loss yesterday? This inconsistency is one of the key talking points surrounding Houston right now.

On the mound for the Brewers is Houser, who could be vulnerable against the Astros’ typically potent lineup. The compelling price on Houston might tempt many to back them, hoping for a re-emergence of their formidable offense from two nights ago.

There’s also an interesting dynamic when considering the total. Bielak has been somewhat disappointing over the past 30 days, with a slightly inflated 4.47 xFIP. More concerningly, left-handed batters have posted a hefty .395 wOBA against him, and right-handers are not far behind at .389. This could play into Milwaukee’s hands and suggests they might be able to rack up some runs.

The anticipated Astros lineup will be missing Jose Altuve. That places more pressure on players like Yordan Alvarez, who has been reliable against right-handed pitching. Jose Abreu, who arrived with a significant reputation, needs to step up, having shown disappointing ISO numbers and a wOBA of .243 against righties over the last 30 days. Kyle Tucker also needs to improve, with his ISO of .093 and a wOBA of .249 in 63 at-bats.

Despite recent struggles, the Astros are known for their resilience. This matchup could be the spark they need to reignite their offense.