The Tampa Bay Rays will play the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. ATTSN Southwest will televise this AL showdown and the first pitch will be at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros Odds
Vegas has listed Tampa Bay (+230) as the underdog to Houston (-255). The total is sitting at 8 runs and bettors can take the over or the under for -110. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds sitting at +105 for the Rays +1.5 runs and -125 for the Astros -1.5.
The Rays have gone 34-39 SU this year and are 39-33 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline, despite having gained 4.9 units ATS. The Astros, on the other hand, are 49-26 SU and 42-32 ATS. The team’s gained 8.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.3 units ATS.
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.
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is projected to start for the visiting Rays. Eovaldi is 1-2 with a 4.63 ERA and 16 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Astros are turning to righty Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.94 ERA), who has 105 punchouts and 33 walks as well as a 1.14 WHIP. Morton made two starts against the Rays in 2017, posting a 1-1 record with a 5.73 ERA.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8.42 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.72, along with a K/9 of 8.37.
Rays hitters have slashed .251/.322/.388 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 3.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos have led Tampa Bay’s offense. Duffy is slashing .317/.360/.439 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 20 runs scored, while Ramos has a .290 average with nine homers, 36 RBIs and 22 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Houston’s pitching staff has given up 3.1 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starters have an ERA of 2.95, a WHIP of 1.05 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.2. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.76, a WHIP of 1.05 and a K/9 of 10.8.
Houston’s hitters are putting up 5.2 runs per contest, including 6.8 per game over its last 10 games and 6.0 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .306/.372/.465 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder George Springer have led the way for the Astros’ batters this year. Altuve is slashing .341/.396/.468 with five home runs, 37 RBIs, 47 runs and 11 stolen bases, and Springer’s line is .278/.354/.478 with 14 homers, 41 RBIs and 55 runs scored.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
Tampa Bay has tallied 10 extra-base hits over its last five games. Houston has 15 XBH over its last five.
The Tampa Bay defense has allowed six errors over its last five games, compared to three errors for Houston over its last five.
The Rays have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 16 over their last 10.
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