Game Details

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Matchup

Houston Astros (Away) vs Baltimore Orioles (Home)

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Date

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

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Venue

Oriole Park at Camden Yards \u2013 Baltimore, MD

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Series

Series opener

Betting Odds (April 28, 2026)

Odds sourced from VegasInsider consensus lines.

Market	Houston Astros	Baltimore Orioles
Moneyline	+117	-140
Run Line (Spread)	+1.5 (-175)	-1.5 (+145)
Over/Under	Over 9 (-105)	Under 9 (-115)

Preview: Two Struggling Teams, One Looking for a Spark

Tuesday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards brings together two American League clubs desperate to find consistency as April winds down. The Baltimore Orioles (13-15) host the visiting Houston Astros (11-18) in the opening game of a new series, with both franchises nursing losing records and looking to halt troubling recent trends.

Baltimore enters having dropped two straight to the Boston Red Sox, managing to score just four combined runs in those two defeats, and has fallen 5.5 games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees. Meanwhile, Houston \u2014 sitting last in the AL West \u2014 avoided a sweep by the Yankees on Sunday with a 7-4 victory but still sits at a troubling 3-7 over their last ten games.

The pitching matchup pits Orioles right-hander Shane Baz (0-2, 5.08 ERA) against a Houston club deploying Kai-Wei Teng (1-1, 2.16 ERA) as an opener after his surprising bullpen effectiveness. Home-field advantage and a slightly more stable roster give Baltimore the edge in the betting market at -140 favorites, but given the struggles on both sides, this game is far from a lock.

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Baltimore Orioles Analysis

The Orioles came into 2026 carrying the ambitions of a roster building toward contention, but the early weeks have been a rude awakening. Sitting at 13-15 through 28 games, Baltimore is already 5.5 games back in the division and has gone just 4-6 over their last ten outings. A two-game skid against the Red Sox \u2014 in which they scored a mere four total runs \u2014 has underscored the team's current offensive struggles.

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson remains the offensive cornerstone of this Orioles club. He has smashed nine home runs through the season's first month, reaffirming his status as one of the most dangerous power bats in the AL. The team needs more production from the rest of the lineup to consistently win, however, and the pitching staff has been inconsistent.

Catcher Samuel Basallo has been a bright spot. The 21-year-old is on a tear recently \u2014 homering in back-to-back starts heading into this contest \u2014 and has boosted his slash line to .233/.325/.452 with five home runs and 10 runs scored through his first 83 plate appearances. His development is central to Baltimore's long-term plans, and his recent form is exactly the secondary production the Orioles need alongside Henderson.

On the mound Tuesday, right-hander Shane Baz makes his sixth start in an Orioles uniform, still seeking his first win with the club. Baz has been durable \u2014 he has worked at least five innings in every start \u2014 but command has been an issue, posting a troubling 5.10 BB/9 on the season. He has allowed four runs in each of his last two outings. In two home starts specifically, he has surrendered seven runs over 10\u2153 innings. Against Houston in three career appearances, Baz carries a 0-1 record and 4.00 ERA across 18 innings \u2014 competitive numbers that show he can keep the Astros in check.

The team made roster moves after the Boston series, designating right-hander Albert Suarez for assignment while reliever Ryan Helsley returned from the family emergency medical list to bolster the bullpen. The Orioles have lost three of their last four home series, making Camden Yards less of a fortress than the club would prefer heading into this matchup.

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Houston Astros Analysis

Once the class of the American League, the Houston Astros are in unfamiliar territory in 2026. At 11-18, they occupy last place in the AL West, 4.5 games behind the division-leading Oakland Athletics. Their road record is a dismal 6-12, and their last-ten-games mark of 3-7 reflects a club struggling to find traction.

There are genuine bright spots, however. First baseman Christian Walker has been one of the best offensive stories on the Houston roster. The veteran is batting .291 with seven home runs, eight doubles, 23 RBI, and 13 walks across 103 at-bats through late April. Walker extended his hitting streak to four games on Sunday against the Yankees and has homered in back-to-back games \u2014 giving Houston a reliable run-producer in the middle of the order. Manager Joe Espada credited his lineup's approach: "Really good at-bats from the very beginning," after Sunday's 7-4 win.

Third baseman Isaac Paredes has also heated up considerably. Over his last seven games, Paredes is hitting .333 (9-for-27) with three home runs and eight RBI, raising his season OPS to .711. He has occupied the third spot in the batting order in three consecutive games, reflecting the organization's confidence in his current form.

On the mound, Houston's rotation has been a patchwork operation all month. The injury-riddled staff has forced the club to deploy Kai-Wei Teng as Tuesday's opener. Teng (1-1) has impressed in a relief role, posting a 2.16 ERA and 0.90 WHIP across 16\u2154 innings with a 16:6 K:BB ratio through 11 appearances. While not yet fully stretched out as a starter, Teng made seven starts for the Giants last season and has a starter's background. This will be his first career appearance against Baltimore.

The Astros also have right-hander Ryan Weiss \u2014 recently removed from the rotation after a 6.50 ERA across two starts \u2014 available in long relief if needed. With Tatsuya Imai (arm) still on the IL but reportedly nearing a return, Houston's rotation should stabilize in coming days \u2014 but Tuesday's game features a bullpen-heavy approach that adds inherent uncertainty.

Head-to-Head History \u0026 Betting Trends

Shane Baz has three career appearances against the Astros, going 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA over 18 innings \u2014 a workable history that shows competitive outings without a convincing edge for either side.

Key betting context entering Tuesday's game:

Baltimore is installed as -140 home favorites despite a below-.500 record (13-15), reflecting Houston's brutal road form (6-12 away in 2026).
The Orioles are 4-6 in their last 10 and have lost three of their last four home series, dulling the home-field advantage typically baked into the moneyline.
Houston went 3-7 in its last ten but posted seven runs against the Yankees on Sunday \u2014 their second-highest run total over the past three weeks \u2014 signaling the offense can wake up.
The total is 9 runs (Over -105, Under -115). The books lean slightly to the under, factoring in Teng's efficient relief work and two offenses that have struggled to consistently generate runs.
The run line (-1.5 for Baltimore at +145) carries real risk given the Orioles' recent offensive slump. Baltimore scored just four combined runs in their last two games.

Both clubs enter this series opener below .500, making it a competitive coin-flip beyond the home-field component.

Prediction & Best Bets

🎯 Best Bet

Our Pick

Baltimore holds the clearest structural advantages here: home field, a refreshed bullpen with Helsley's return, and an opponent arriving with a 6-12 road record and a bullpen arm as their designated starter. Shane Baz has faced Houston three times in his career and managed a 4.00 ERA \u2014 not dominant, but workable for a home win. Teng's transition from multi-inning reliever to opener adds uncertainty to Houston's ability to generate runs in the early innings. Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes are the threats Baltimore must neutralize \u2014 if Baz can navigate those two bats, the Orioles should have enough at home to win a low-scoring affair.

FAQ

Who is starting for the Baltimore Orioles on April 28, 2026?

Right-hander Shane Baz (0-2, 5.08 ERA) starts for Baltimore in his sixth appearance of the season. He has allowed four runs in each of his last two starts.

Who is pitching for the Houston Astros?

Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng (1-1, 2.16 ERA) will serve as Houston's opener, transitioning from his relief role. He carries a 0.90 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB ratio across 16\u2154 innings this season.

What are the betting odds for Orioles vs Astros on April 28, 2026?

Baltimore is -140 on the moneyline; Houston is +117. The run line is Baltimore -1.5 (+145) and Houston +1.5 (-175). The game total is 9 runs (Over -105, Under -115).

What are the current records of both teams?

Baltimore Orioles: 13-15 (.464), third in the AL East. Houston Astros: 11-18 (.379), last in the AL West.

Where is the game being played?

Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland, with the Orioles as the home team. ---