The Tampa Bay Rays are prepared to battle against the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and ATTSN Southwest is in line to broadcast this AL matchup.
Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Vegas has listed Tampa Bay (+160) as the underdog to Houston (-170). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -105 for over 7.5 runs and -115 for under 7.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds coming in at Astros -1.5 runs (-120) and Rays +1.5 runs (+100).
The Astros are 55-28 SU and are 45-37 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 5.3 units for moneyline bettors and 5.0 units ATS. Houston is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 39-41 SU and 45-34 ATS. They’ve gained 4.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 10.8 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Rays games have an over/under record of 34-43-2 so far in 2018. Houston has an over/under record of 38-40-4.
Right-hander Gerrit Cole will get the nod for the visiting Stros. Cole is 9-1 with a 2.56 ERA and 146 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with eight strikeouts and a 5.14 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays will put the ball in the right hand of Wilmer Font (1-3, 6.46 ERA), who has 33 strikeouts and 14 walks as well as a 1.51 WHIP. Font is 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 15.43 ERA against Houston this year.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 3.9 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 3.87 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters have produced 3.9 runs per outing, including 3.5 per game over its last 10 games and 4.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .246/.328/.427 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Rays’ offense has been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos. Duffy is slashing .316/.363/.431 with four home runs, 23 RBIs and 22 runs scored, and Ramos is batting .287 with 11 homers, 39 RBIs and 24 runs.
In the other dugout, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.92 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.24 K/9. The bullpen has managed an excellent ERA of just 2.61, along with a WHIP of 1.05 and a K-per-9 of 10.85.
The Astros offense has slashed .266/.341/.439 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game this year, including 4.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Houston’s offense has been powered by second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman, who have combined to drive in 90 runs. Altuve is slashing .345/.410/.489 with seven home runs, 41 RBIs, 55 runs and 12 stolen bases. Bregman (.277/.380/.506) has produced 14 homers, 49 RBIs, 50 runs and seven stolen bases.
The Astros have gained 12.3 units and are 30-21 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 24 of those games, compared to 24 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 2.5 units and are 27-25 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 25 of those games, compared to 26 that’ve cashed the under.
Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in five of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
The Astros have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
Houston has recorded 21.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 25.0 over its last five.
The Astros have won five of their last six games SU.
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