The red-hot Houston Astros will go for their 13th consecutive win as they play host to the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park. The opening pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET and ATTSN Southwest will broadcast this AL showdown.
Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros Odds
Houston (-245) is hosting this game as the favorite over Tampa Bay (+225) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 7.5 runs (-105 for the over and -115 for the under). The game’s runline odds sit at +100 for taking the Rays +1.5 runs and -120 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Astros are 49-25 straight up (SU) and 42-32 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 8.4 units for moneyline bettors and 8.3 units (ATS). Houston has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total went over in all seven of them. The Rays are 33-39 SU and have gone 39-33 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 4.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline, but have gained 4.9 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in six of those seven.
Houston games have an over/under record of 35-35-4 so far in 2018. The Rays have been a decent under bet with a total record of 32-38-2.
Left-hander Blake Snell is getting the start for the visiting Rays. Snell is 8-4 with a 2.58 ERA and 97 strikeouts. He has yet to face Houston this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 0-0 record with a 6.00 ERA and nine strikeouts.
The Astros are putting the ball in the right hand of Justin Verlander (9-2, 1.61 ERA, 0.76 WHIP), who’s got 120 punchouts and 20 walks. Verlander only made one start against the Rays in 2017 (0-0, 2.57 ERA and six strikeouts across seven innings).
Houston’s pitchers have yielded 3.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 2.97, a WHIP of 1.05 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.2. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.75, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.8.
The Houston offense is putting up 5.2 runs per outing, including 7.4 per game over its last 10 games and 7.2 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .335/.387/.531 over its last five contests and is 5-0 SU during that span.
Second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder George Springer have led the Astros’ batters this year. Altuve is slashing .342/.398/.470 with five home runs, 37 RBIs, 47 runs and 11 stolen bases, while Springer is batting .279 with 14 homers, 41 RBIs and 54 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8.44 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.74, along with a WHIP of 1.20 and a K-per-9 of 8.36.
Rays hitters have slashed .251/.323/.387 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 3.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Third baseman Matt Duffy and first baseman C.J. Cron continue to lead Tampa Bay’s offense. Duffy is hitting .314/.358/.434 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while Cron is slashing .237/.317/.444 with 15 homers, 36 RBIs and 37 runs scored.
The Rays have lost 8.8 units and are 23-24 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 24 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 0.0 units and are 14-13 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s cashed in 13 of those games, compared to 13 that went under the total.
Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has cashed in zero of Houston’s last seven games.
The Rays have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 18 over their last 10.
Tampa Bay has recorded 17.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 14.2 over its last five.
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