MLB matchup analysis

Astros vs Phillies Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park · 6:40 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Astros vs Phillies

Lab Rating
5.5/10
Model lean
Astros 71.4%
Market probability
40.8%
Model edge
+30.5%
Best moneyline
+138
Sportsbooks checked
5
LyDia model
71.4%
Market
40.8%

The case for Houston Astros

Starting pitcher edge: 21 points
LyDia gives Hayden Wesneski a 21-point edge over Andrew Painter, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.59 vs 1.55) and ERA (3.35 vs 5.71).

The case for Philadelphia Phillies

Late-inning bullpen advantage
Houston Astros relievers have a 2.91 ERA over the last 7 days; Philadelphia Phillies relievers have a 6.35. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors Philadelphia Phillies.
Team strength favors Philadelphia Phillies
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's own team-strength model has Philadelphia Phillies ahead (55.8% to 51.9%). The pick still comes from Houston Astros once the pitcher and bullpen terms are applied.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 5.5/10, under the 7.2/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 6.4/10
The Houston Astros bullpen comes in tired. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.
Cold stretch at the plate
Houston Astros is -0.022 wOBA below its own season form.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 8.19/10
LyDia's win probability for Houston Astros (71.4%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 28/40
Hayden Wesneski rates 71 on LyDia's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 18.58/50
Houston Astros's recent form does not clearly outpace Philadelphia Phillies's.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 51.9%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes Houston Astros 51.9% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 19 points
The pitcher-score gap favors Houston Astros by 19 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: -0.063
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward Philadelphia Phillies. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 51.9% -> 71.4%
Team strength alone had Houston Astros at 51.9%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 71.4% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict LyDia passes. The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Read the full model output

The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Game information

MatchupHouston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies
DateTuesday, September 8, 2026
First pitch6:40 PM ET
VenueCitizens Bank Park
Starting pitchersHayden Wesneski vs Andrew Painter
WeatherGame-time forecast: 77°F, 0% precipitation chance, 1 mph wind from SE.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Hayden WesneskiAstros · RHP
vs
Andrew PainterPhillies · RHP
MetricAstrosPhillies
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅔5
ThrowsRR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)7150
ERA (lower is better)3.355.71
WHIP (lower is better)1.031.41
K/9 (higher is better)7.17.9
K-BB% (higher is better)12.2%12.0%
K% (higher is better)20.0%20.1%
BB% (lower is better)7.8%8.1%
BB/9 (lower is better)2.83.2
HR/9 (lower is better)0.61.5
Ground-ball rate43.2%43.1%
Fly-ball rate56.8%56.9%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Hayden Wesneski a 21-point edge over Andrew Painter, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.59 vs 1.55) and ERA (3.35 vs 5.71).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Hayden Wesneski strikeouts
3.6 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.1K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 3.5K · O -122 / U +106 · 6 books
Andrew Painter strikeouts
4.6 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.1K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 4.5K · O -125 / U +113 · 6 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Astros are 6-4 in their last 10 and averaging 3.9 runs per game over the last 15 days; Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10 and averaging 3.3 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Phillies carry the better run differential per game (+0.24 against -0.26).

MetricAstrosPhillies
Last 106-47-3
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)6-4 on the road8-2 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.6690.642
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.2950.286
Runs per game, last 15 days3.93.3
K% last 15 days (lower is better)22.1%20.3%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysAstrosPhillies
OPS0.659 (-0.065 vs szn)0.725 (+0.014 vs szn)
Runs per game3.89 (-0.615 vs szn)4.59 (+0.144 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.288 (-0.030 vs szn)0.319 (+0.006 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)22.6% (+0.9% vs szn)17.8% (-4.3% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Phillies have been the better offense, 0.319 wOBA to 0.288.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricAstrosPhillies
Record73-7181-63
Run differential / game (team quality)-0.26+0.24
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.494.46
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.764.22
Season OPS0.7220.712
K% season (lower is better)21.7%22.1%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7280.711

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Astros and Phillies are highlighted.

Astros
Combined risk
6.4 Tired
Fatigue
6.8 Tired
Efficiency
5.9 Effective
Phillies
Combined risk
4.3 Normal
Fatigue
3.7 Normal
Efficiency
3.9 Below average

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricAstrosPhillies
Fatigue6.8/10, Tired3.7/10, Normal
Efficiency5.9/10, Effective3.9/10, Below average
Combined risk6.4/10, Tired4.3/10, Normal
Relief innings, last 7 days21.711.3
Back-to-back arms65
7-day ERA2.916.35
7-day WHIP1.201.15

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
7.7
Market total
8.0
Projected away runs
2.9
Projected home runs
4.4
Over price
-104
Under price
+101
Houston Astros team total
2.9 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending
Philadelphia Phillies team total
4.4 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending

The model and market are close. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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