Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers will be taking the field against their divisional rival Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in a Wednesday night game. The game gets underway 8:10 p.m. ET and ATTSN Southwest will broadcast the matchup.
Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Odds
Sportsbooks have Texas (+365) as the underdog to Houston (-440). If you’re thinking the game’s total is going to go under 8.5 runs scored, then Vegas is offering even money odds (+100). Picking the over can return -120 odds. There’s a runline of Rangers +1.5 (+170) and Astros -1.5 (-200) for this matchup.
The Rangers have gone 74-78 SU this year and are 82-69 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 8.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 3.3 units ATS. Texas is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 99-53 SU and 81-70 ATS. The team’s gained 2.7 units for moneyline bettors while earning 0.3 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 68-78-5 in 2019. The Rangers have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 68-80-3.
Kolby Allard will get the nod for the visiting Rangers. The left-handed Allard is 4-0 with a 4.34 ERA and 30 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Astros will turn to righty Gerrit Cole (17-5, 2.62 ERA), who’s got 292 strikeouts and 45 walks as well as a 0.91 WHIP. Cole is 1-2 with 42 strikeouts and a 6.45 ERA across four starts against Texas this year.
Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.23 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 8.36 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.63, along with a K/9 of 8.77.
Rangers hitters have slashed .247/.320/.429 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game this year, including 5.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Texas’ hitters have been led by Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo. The speedy Andrus is slashing .272/.311/.386 with 10 home runs, 67 RBIs, 73 runs and 28 steals, while Choo is hitting .266 with 22 homers, 57 RBIs and 85 runs scored.
For the home team, Houston’s pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starters have an ERA of 3.64, a WHIP of 1.10 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.5. The bullpen has a 3.84 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. In 66 games against AL West foes, Astros starters have an ERA of 3.77 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.52.
The Houston hitters are putting up 5.7 runs per outing, including 6.3 per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .261/.372/.494 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Astros’ batters have been led by outfielder Michael Brantley and first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Brantley is hitting .319/.378/.512 with 21 home runs, 86 RBIs and 86 runs scored, while Gurriel’s line is .302/.346/.547 with 29 homers, 100 RBIs and 81 runs.
The Rangers have gained 8.0 units and are 53-43 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 43 of those games, compared to 52 that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 12.2 units and are 24-19 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 15 of those games, compared to 26 which went under the total.
Rangers vs. Astros Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in three of Texas’ last seven games.
- Houston has recorded 29.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 24.0 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 27 over their last 10.
- The Rangers have an OPS of .749 this season and an OPS of .764 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS sits at .852 overall and .834 versus righties.
