The Texas Rangers will be taking on their AL West nemesis Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. ATTSN Southwest will be showing the matchup and the game gets underway at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Odds
Vegas has listed Texas (+235) as the underdog to Houston (-270). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds posted at even money (+100) for over 8.5 runs and -120 for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at +110 for the Rangers +1.5 runs and -130 for the Astros -1.5.
The Rangers have gone 16-25 SU this year and are 16-24 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 0.9 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 12.2 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 25-16 SU and 20-20 ATS. The team’s lost 4.9 units for moneyline bettors and 2.8 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in six of those seven.
Astros games have a 14-24-2 over/under record so far in 2018. Texas has an over/under record of 21-16-3.
The left-handed Matt Moore is getting the start for Texas. Moore is 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Houston this year.
The Astros are planning to start lefty Dallas Keuchel (2-5, 3.53 ERA), who’s got 37 punchouts and 14 walks, as well as a 1.18 WHIP. Keuchel is 0-1 with four strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA across one starts against Texas this year.
Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.11 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.37, along with a K-per-9 of 8.37.
Rangers hitters have slashed .230/.302/.394 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game this season, including 3.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Texas’ offensive production been powered by outfielder Nomar Mazara and first baseman Joey Gallo, who have combined to launch 22 home runs. Mazara is slashing .291/.352/.536 with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Gallo (.204/.287/.483) is up to 12 homers, 25 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .196/.224/.286 across 58 plate appearances, Mazara didn’t perform especially well against lefty pitching on the road last year (his overall season line was .253/.323/.422).
For the home team, Houston’s pitchers have yielded 2.7 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have an ERA of 2.30, a WHIP of 0.95 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.8. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 3.08, a WHIP of 1.06 and a K/9 of 9.7. In 22 games against divisional opponents, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.30 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.57.
The Houston offense is putting up 4.8 runs per contest, including 5.2 per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .293/.366/.529 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder George Springer have paced the Astros’ hitters so far. Correa is hitting .295/.380/.511 with six home runs, 27 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and Springer’s line sits at .296/.363/.506 with eight homers, 26 RBIs and 33 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .315/.391/.550, Correa enjoyed batting against lefties last season, slashing .391/.457/.609 over 105 plate appearances.
The Rangers have lost 2.4 units and are 4-8 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against lefties. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 3.1 units and are 7-7 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in five of those games, as opposed to eight which went under the total.
Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Astros have won four of their last five games SU.
Texas has recorded 17.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 17.2 over its last five.
The Rangers have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 12 over their last 10.
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