In the 0 game of their AL West doubleheader, the Texas Rangers are set to face off against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. ATTSN Southwest will be airing the action. The game gets underway at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Odds
Houston (receiving -215 odds) is the massive favorite against Texas and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total now sit at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds coming in at Rangers +1.5 runs (-110) and Astros -1.5 runs (-110).
The Astros are 25-15 straight up (SU) and 19-20 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 0.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 2.2 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rangers are 17-20 SU and have gone 21-15 against the spread. In total, the club has accumulated 3.5 units for moneyline gamblers over the early portions of the year and 2.5 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 17-21-1 so far in 2019. Rangers games have gone over 21 times, gone under 14 times and pushed on one occasion.
Adrian Sampson is getting the start for Texas. The right-handed Sampson (0-2, 4.41 ERA) has racked up 21 strikeouts in 32.2 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA against Houston this year.
The Astros are hoping that Corbin Martin fares well against major-league hitters. This game represents the first MLB start of the year for the righty Martin.
Houston’s pitching staff has yielded 3.7 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have a 3.95 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.91, a WHIP of 1.02 and a K/9 of 9.4. In 19 games against AL West opponents, Astros starters have an ERA of 4.11 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.30.
The Houston offense is putting up 5.2 runs per contest, including 5.9 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .288/.370/.525 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Michael Brantley and George Springer have led the Astros’ hitters this year. Brantley is slashing .340/.387/.607 with 10 home runs, 29 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and Springer is batting .299 with 13 homers, 33 RBIs and 30 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.48 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 8.15 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.94, along with a K-per-9 of 7.29.
Rangers hitters have slashed .245/.332/.443 on their way to 5.6 runs scored per game this season, including 5.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo have led Texas’ offense. Andrus is hitting .324/.375/.500 with five home runs, 23 RBIs, 22 runs and eight stolen bases, while Choo is hitting .304/.397/.504 with four homers, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
The Rangers have gained 4.7 units and are 15-11 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 15 of those games, compared to 11 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 1.0 units and are 14-15 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, compared to 14 that went under the total.
Rangers at Astros MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Texas has tallied 13 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Houston has 16 XBH over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 23 over their last 10.
- The Rangers have a team OPS of .774 this season and an OPS of .795 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS stands at .847 overall and .837 against righties.
- Houston has posted 26.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 24.2 over its last five.
- The Rangers have lost four of their last five games SU while the Astros have taken seven of their last eight.
