MLB Picks: The red hot San Francisco Giants are in Houston tonight to start a three game series with the Astros. The two teams have headed in opposite directions over the last 10 games with the Giants winning seven and the Astros dropping as many. Not surprisingly, BetUS.com has the Giants listed as a -130 moneyline favorite in the their MLB Picks: Giants vs Astros MLB Betting Odds – August 3, 2009. 
The Giants enter this evening's West versus Central battle fresh off a 6-1 home stand. San Francisco caused depression across the state of Pennsylvania as they swept the Pirates before taking three out of four from the Phillies. The Giants, however, needed every win just to stay tied with the Rockies in the NL West standings. Both teams are 58-47 and seven games behind the first place Dodgers.
San Fran will look to get the seventh win in their last eight games with Cy Young candidate Matt Cain on the hill. Cain, who is 12-2 in 21 starts with a 2.12 ERA, was almost perfect in his last outing, giving up three hits and no earned runs over nine innings in a 1-0 win against Pittsburgh. The Giants are 5-0 in the 24 year old's last five starts and 8-2 in his last 10.
Cain is 6-1 in 10 road starts with a 2.27 ERA. San Francisco is 6-4 overall when the Alabama native makes an away start, but they are 5-2 in his last seven away appearances.
Houston is fighting to stay alive in the NL Central after a 2-5 road swing dropped their overall record to 52-53, leaving them 4.5 games behind the first place Cardinals. A return home is, no doubt, welcome as the Astros are 28-25 at Minute Maid Park, but the team has not been solid in series openers, going just 13-20 in game ones this year.
Mike Hampton gets the starting call tonight from skipper Cecil Cooper. Hampton was bombed by the Cubs his last outing for eight hits and nine earned runs over four innings in a 12-0 loss. The horrendous performance brought his record to 6-8 while pumping his ERA up to a less than spectacular 5.36.
The veteran lefty is 3-3 at home this season with a 5.04 ERA. Working in his favor, though, is the fact that current Giants are hitting just .237 against him. Additionally, San Francisco has had trouble with southpaws all year, ranking near the bottom of the league in runs, hits, and RBI against left-handed hurlers.
This evening's game is set to get underway at 8:05pm ET at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
BetUS.com MLB Picks: Giants vs Astros MLB Betting Odds – August 3, 2009
San Francisco Giants -1.5 (+130), Over 8 (-110), -130 (Moneyline)
Houston Astros +1.5 (-150), Under 8 (-110), +110 (Moneyline)
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