The Houston Astros are prepared to battle against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park. ATTSN Southwest will televise the action and the game will get underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Odds
Vegas is listing Texas (+220) as the underdog to Houston (-240). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over eight runs and -110 for under eight. The game’s runline odds sit at +100 for taking the Rangers +1.5 runs and -120 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Astros are 9-4 SU and 7-6 ATS. They’ve gained 1.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 0.1 units against the spread (ATS). The Rangers have gone 4-10 SU this year and are 4-10 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 4.4 units for moneyline gamblers through the early part of the year and 9.3 units ATS.
Houston games have had an over/under record of 4-9 so far in 2018. Texas has an over/under record of 6-7-1.
The Astros are coming off of a 9-8 loss against the Twins, while the Rangers just dropped a 7-2 game to the Angels.
Cole Hamels (1-2, 5.06 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Rangers. The southpaw Hamels started 24 games last year while finishing the season 11-6 overall with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He made two starts against the Astros in 2017 and put together a 1-1 record against them with a 5.40 ERA and eight strikeouts.
The Astros have tabbed righty Gerrit Cole (1-0, 0.64 ERA) as their starter. Cole recorded 196 strikeouts in 203 innings last year (33 starts). Cole finished the season 12-12 overall with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.
As a unit, Houston’s pitching staff has given up 2.9 runs per game overall this season. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 2.81, a WHIP of 1.29 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 11.5. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.14, a WHIP of 1.07 and a K/9 of 10.1. In four divisional games, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.22 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.22.
Houston’s offense has put up 4.5 runs per contest, including 5.5 per game against divisional foes and 3.2 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .238/.335/.311 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Josh Reddick has helped lead the Astros’ offense this year with 10 hits, seven RBIs and eight runs scored. Reddick seemed to take a step back when hitting lefty pitching at home last season, slashing .250/.302/.375 over 43 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .314/.363/.484).
In the visiting dugout, Texas’ pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starters own a 5.64 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 8.60 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.11, along with a K-per-9 of 8.05.
Rangers hitters have slashed .230/.309/.348 on their way to 3.1 runs scored per game this season, including 2.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Texas’ offense has been led by Elvis Andrus. Andrus is slashing .327/.426/.500 with 17 hits, five RBIs and seven runs scored.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has cashed in four of Texas’ last seven games.
Both teams have hit seven home runs over their last 10 games.
Texas has averaged 19.5 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 outings and 17.8 over its last five.
The Rangers have lost five of their last six games SU.
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