The Tampa Bay Rays are heading west to Minute Maid Park to face off against the Houston Astros. ATTSN Southwest will be televising this AL showdown and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros Odds
The Rays are 33-38 SU and are 37-33 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline, despite having gained 2.8 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 48-25 SU and 41-31 ATS. The team’s gained 6.4 units for moneyline bettors and 8.6 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 33-35-4 thus far in 2018. The Rays have been a decent under bet with a total record of 31-37-2.
Right-hander Ryne Stanek is projected to start for Tampa Bay. Stanek is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 22 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Astros are planning to start righty Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.40 ERA), who has 130 punchouts and 25 walks to his credit, as well as a 0.88 WHIP. Cole did not record a start against the Rays in 2017.
Houston’s pitchers have given up 3.1 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The club’s starters have a 2.94 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.78, a WHIP of 1.05 and a K/9 of 10.7.
The Houston hitters have put up 5.2 runs per contest, including 7.4 per game over its last 10 games and 8.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .346/.413/.605 over its last five contests and is 5-0 SU during that span.
Second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder George Springer have paced the Astros’ hitters this year. Altuve is hitting .337/.393/.463 with five home runs, 37 RBIs, 45 runs and 10 stolen bases, while Springer’s line sits at .282/.356/.486 with 14 homers, 41 RBIs and 54 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.11 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8.48 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.68, along with a WHIP of 1.20.
The Rays offense has slashed .253/.324/.389 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 3.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 1.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and first baseman C.J. Cron. Duffy is hitting .318/.360/.439 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored, while Cron (.240/.321/.450) has produced 15 homers, 36 RBIs and 37 runs scored.
The Rays have lost 7.8 units and are 22-24 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 23 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 6.3 units and are 27-18 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 20 of those games, compared to 22 that went under the total.
Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in six of Houston’s last seven games.
Houston has posted 30.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 34.4 over its last five.
The Rays have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 20 over their last 10.
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