Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker impressed in his MLB debut against the Dodgers, allowing two runs over five innings. I like Houston to do more damage Sunday because of how well the Astros hit lefties (.843 OPS, 2nd in MLB). Go Over 2.5 earned runs allowed for the 24-year-old rookie.

Mitchell Parker found success in his MLB debut, allowing two runs in five innings while striking out four Dodgers, walking no one and securing the win. Even though he's up against the team with the fewest strikeouts in the majors, he can get to four Ks again. Parker has a strong 11.4 K/9 rate in 329.2 career minor-league innings, with all but four appearances coming as a starter. He saw a rise in K rate upon a late-season promotion to Triple-A last year, recording 18 Ks in 10.1 innings over three starts, then another five in his four-inning debut this year. For a pitcher with this track record, he should be expected to get to four Ks against anyone, yet we're getting the 'dog side.

The market is projecting an easy Houston win, but nothing has been easy for the Astros this season, as their 7-15 record shows. Cristian Javier has pitched well in all four starts but Houston has just two wins to show. The best three of those starts came at home, where Javier posted a 3.71 ERA last year as opposed to a 5.17 ERA at home. Mitchell Parker followed up a strong Triple-A outing by holding the Dodgers to two earned runs in five innings to get the win, and I like his chances to keep his team in this one against a struggling Houston squad.

We lost money fading Mitchell Parker at Dodger Stadium, but are willing to give it another go. The Astros have all kinds of problems right now, for sure, but they have their ace on the mound and he has been excellent. There are too many professional hitters in this Houston lineup to not start scoring more runs and this is quite an early gauntlet for Parker to have to navigate on the road.