Houston Astros vs Baltimore Orioles Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 7/18/26, 8:42 PM  by Carlos Zabala | Modified on 7/18/26 at 9:03 PM in MLB Picks

The Orioles took a 3-2 lead, turning the game around with a Ward home run in the eighth inning, the first of the series in Houston against the Astros. Saturday's game followed a similar pattern, a real nail-biter, but the Orioles again managed to overcome Joe Espada's team, this time 4-2 in extra innings. Sportsbooks are paying +100 odds for the Orioles to also win Sunday's early game and complete the sweep.

In Saturday's game, the Astros trailed 1-0 until Allen tied it in the seventh inning with an RBI double. The game went to extra innings tied 1-1, and with Jackson on base, the Orioles took a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly. For the Astros, the red-hot AL MVP candidate Yordan Álvarez responded with a double to tie the game 2-2.

Incredibly, with the bases loaded, no outs, and the winning run on third, the Astros couldn't bring the game-winning run home. Altuve hit a fly ball that wasn't very deep. However, Tyler O'Neill made a spectacular play, throwing out the Astros' winning run at home plate with a great throw from the outfield. O'Neill then drove in the go-ahead run with a slow grounder to the infield in the bottom of the 11th.