This is an 8* PUNISHER on the Astros.

Despite being a public side, I like Houston here to find a way to get the job done.

Houston leads the AL West by 3.5 games over Seattle, while KC is one game back of Cleveland for the AL Central lead.

Clearly, it's a big game and series for both sides.

But it just comes down to the starting pitching for me, with Houston having the clear advantage.

Brady Singer (9-9, 3.38 ERA) and Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.72) have similar numbers, but Brown is in current better form.

Singer was most recently shelled for five runs off 11 hits over five innings in a loss to the Phillies on Saturday and he's just 1-2 with a pedestrian 4.57 ERA in four career outings vs. Houston.

Brown got destroyed in KC all the way back on April 11th, allowing nine runs and posting only two outs, but he enters this one on top form, having allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his last 14 starts, going 10-2 with a tiny 2.12 ERA in that span.

With revenge on his mind, I say that Brown at this price at home is the correct call.

So lay the price with confidence on the ASTROS.

Good luck, NP