The streaking Houston Astros are searching for their sixth win in a row as they play host to the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park. ATTSN Southwest will be showing this AL matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros Odds
Houston (receiving -195 odds) is a sizable favorite against Tampa Bay and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this night game at 8 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds sitting at -120 for the Rays +1.5 runs and +100 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Rays are 76-57 SU and are 66-66 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.4 units for moneyline gamblers and 9.1 units ATS. The Astros, on the other hand, are 86-47 SU and 70-62 ATS. They’ve gained 0.8 units for moneyline bettors while earning 1.9 units ATS.
Houston games have a 58-69-5 over/under record in 2019. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 61-64-7.
Ryan Yarbrough will get the start for the Rays. The southpaw Yarbrough (11-3, 3.29 ERA) has recorded 93 strikeouts in 109.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Astros are sending righty Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.75 ERA) to the mound. Cole has 238 strikeouts and 40 walks to his credit, along with a 0.95 WHIP. Cole is 0-1 with 10 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this year.
Houston’s pitchers have allowed 4.0 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The club’s starters have a 3.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.73 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.7 K/9.
The Houston offense is putting up 5.6 runs per outing, including 6.2 per game over its last 10 games and 8.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .341/.420/.612 over its last five matchups and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
Michael Brantley has helped lead the Astros’ offense this year with 19 home runs, 80 RBIs and 81 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 10.27 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.82, along with a WHIP of 1.12 and a K-per-9 of 9.39.
The Rays offense has slashed .252/.327/.427 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Tommy Pham has provided a spark to the Tampa Bay offense. Pham is slashing .271/.374/.460 with 19 home runs, 55 RBIs, 61 runs and 16 stolen bases.
The Astros are looking for another victory after a 15-1 win in the prior game of the series.
Rays vs. Astros Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in four of Tampa Bay’s last seven contests.
- The Rays have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 16 over their last 10.
- The Rays have an OPS of .754 this season and an OPS of .760 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS stands at .845 overall and .820 against righties.
- Houston has recorded 26.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 31.6 over its last five.
- The Astros have won eight of their last nine games SU.
