New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (48) is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The Houston Astros (64-51) visit the New York Yankees (61-54) Friday in the first game of their 3-game series from Yankee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET (Apple TV+). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Astros vs. Yankees odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting; Yankees won 6-1 last season

Houston snapped a 2-game winning streak with a 6-4 loss at the Miami Marlins Wednesday, failing to cash as a +100 underdog. 1B Christian Walker hit a 2-run homer in the first inning.

New York snapped a 5-game losing streak -- and avoided back-to-back series sweeps -- with a 3-2 win at the Texas Rangers Wednesday, cashing as a -126 favorite. SS Anthony Volpe singled home a run in the fourth inning, and LF Jasson Domínguez scored on a throwing error by former Yankees C Kyle Higashioka. 1B Paul Goldschmidt gave New York the lead in the seventh with a solo homer.

Astros at Yankees projected starters

RHP Hunter Brown vs. RHP Cam Schlittler

Brown (9-5, 2.47 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 0.98 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 10.6 K/9 through 131 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 2-1 setback at Boston Red Sox last Friday (Aug. 1)
  • Career vs. Yankees (regular season): 1-1, 3.21 ERA (14 IP, 5 ER), 1.50 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 3 starts

Schlittler (1-2, 4.58 ERA) makes his fifth start. He has a 1.68 WHIP, 5.0 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9 through 19 2/3 innings.

  • Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K in 2-0 defeat at Marlins Saturday
  • Has never faced Astros

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Astros at Yankees odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:50 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Astros -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Yankees -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Astros -1.5 (+155) | Yankees +1.5 (-190)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Astros at Yankees picks and predictions

Prediction

Astros 5, Yankees 4

Moneyline

BET ASTROS (-110).

The Astros are 8-3 in Brown's last 11 starts, and he has allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in 19 of his 22 starts this season. The Yankees have struggled of late, losing 5 of their last 6, while scoring 3 or fewer runs in 4 of their last 5. The Astros have great value to steal a win to open up this series.

Run line/Against the spread

PASS.

There is better value on the Astros' moneyline.

Over/Under

BET OVER 7.5 (-115).

With 2 lineups capable of breaking out at any point, the Over is the best play here. These teams went Over in 2 of their final 3 meetings last season, with 2 of those games finishing with 13 runs.

The Astros have scored 4 or more runs in each of their last 3 games -- and 5 of their last 8 -- while allowing 6 or more runs in 3 of their last 5.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Houston Astros at New York Yankees odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Seth Orlemann, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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