MLB matchup analysis

Astros vs Phillies Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park · 6:40 PM ET

Official Pick

LyDia prediction: Philadelphia Phillies moneyline

Lab Rating
7.4/10
Model lean
Phillies 67.8%
Market probability
61.0%
Model edge
+6.8%
Best moneyline
-172
Sportsbooks checked
3
LyDia model
67.8%
Market
61.0%

The case for Philadelphia Phillies

Starting pitcher edge: 11 points
LyDia gives Cristopher Sánchez a 11-point edge over Hunter Brown, driven mainly by BB/9 (2.1 vs 4.8) and K-BB% (21.9% vs 12.9%).

The case for Houston Astros

The case is thin
The model finds little going Houston Astros's way — it trails on the pitching plan, bullpen, and recent form. The main path to a Houston Astros win is variance.

What to watch

Cold stretch at the plate
Philadelphia Phillies is -0.016 wOBA below its own season form.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 6.41/10
LyDia's win probability for Philadelphia Phillies (67.8%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 37.33/40
Cristopher Sánchez rates 78 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: 30.02/50
Philadelphia Phillies's recent offensive form clearly outpaces Houston Astros's over the tracked windows.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 53.2%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes Philadelphia Phillies 53.2% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 11 points
The pitcher-score gap favors Philadelphia Phillies by 11 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: +0.009
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: 53.2% -> 67.8%
Team strength alone had Philadelphia Phillies at 53.2%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 67.8% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict LyDia backs Philadelphia Phillies at -172. 67.8% to win against a market implying 61.0% - the model sees value and the setup clears every gate.
Read the full model output

Philadelphia Phillies is an official moneyline pick because it clears both gates: 67.8% model win probability and 7.4/10 Lab Rating. LyDia projects 67.8% against a 61.0% no-vig market number, a 6.8% model edge at -172. Philadelphia Phillies owns the starting pitcher edge by 11 points. Bullpen read: Neutral. Philadelphia Phillies's pen efficiency: Below average (3.9/10). Bullpen fatigue moved this probability down 17.7 points from 85.5% (starting pitcher and team strength only) to 67.8%. Lineup check: Philadelphia Phillies is a touch below its season form (-0.041 OPS); Houston Astros is a touch below its season form (-0.032 OPS).

Game information

MatchupHouston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies
DateWednesday, September 9, 2026
First pitch6:40 PM ET
VenueCitizens Bank Park
Starting pitchersHunter Brown vs Cristopher Sánchez
WeatherGame-time forecast: 81°F, 0% precipitation chance, 9 mph wind from S.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Hunter BrownAstros · RHP
vs
Cristopher SánchezPhillies · LHP
MetricAstrosPhillies
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅓6⅓
ThrowsRL
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)6778
ERA (lower is better)3.312.58
WHIP (lower is better)1.301.20
K/9 (higher is better)9.610.3
K-BB% (higher is better)12.9%21.9%
K% (higher is better)25.5%27.5%
BB% (lower is better)12.6%5.6%
BB/9 (lower is better)4.82.1
HR/9 (lower is better)1.00.7
Ground-ball rate61.3%64.6%
Fly-ball rate38.7%35.4%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Cristopher Sánchez a 11-point edge over Hunter Brown, driven mainly by BB/9 (2.1 vs 4.8) and K-BB% (21.9% vs 12.9%).

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

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Hunter Brown strikeouts
4.5 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · -0.0K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 4.5K · O -132 / U +111 · 6 books

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

Both sides arrive in similar form. Astros are 6-4 in their last 10 and averaging 4.1 runs per game over the last 15 days; Phillies are 6-4 in their last 10 and averaging 3.5 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Phillies carry the better run differential per game (+0.23 against -0.26).

MetricAstrosPhillies
Last 106-46-4
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)7-3 on the road7-3 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.6910.671
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3040.298
Runs per game, last 15 days4.13.5
K% last 15 days (lower is better)22.5%20.1%

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
OPS0.667 (-0.056 vs szn)0.728 (+0.016 vs szn)
Runs per game3.96 (-0.542 vs szn)4.58 (+0.115 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.292 (-0.026 vs szn)0.322 (+0.008 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)23.0% (+1.3% vs szn)17.9% (-4.2% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Phillies have been the better offense, 0.322 wOBA to 0.292.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricAstrosPhillies
Record74-7181-64
Run differential / game (team quality)-0.26+0.23
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.504.46
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.764.23
Season OPS0.7230.712
K% season (lower is better)21.7%22.1%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7030.712

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
5.3 Normal
Fatigue
6.1 Normal
Efficiency
6.7 Effective
Phillies
Combined risk
5.0 Normal
Fatigue
4.4 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
Fatigue6.1/10, Normal4.4/10, Normal
Efficiency6.7/10, Effective3.9/10, Below average
Combined risk5.3/10, Normal5.0/10, Normal
Relief innings, last 7 days19.713.0
Back-to-back arms65
7-day ERA1.836.23
7-day WHIP1.121.23

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
5.7
Market total
8.5
Projected away runs
1.9
Projected home runs
4.0
Over price
-110
Under price
-105
Houston Astros team total
1.9 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending
Philadelphia Phillies team total
4.0 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending

The model projects 2.8 runs below the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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