The Houston Astros will face off against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park. The action will be televised nationally on ESPN and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Odds
Houston (-330) is the favorite over Texas (+265) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (-115 for the under and -105 for the over). Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at +135 for the Rangers +1.5 runs and -155 for the Astros -1.5.
The Astros are 10-5 SU and 7-7 ATS. They’ve gained 2.4 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 1.3 units against the spread (ATS). Houston has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the under has hit in six of those seven. The Rangers have gone 5-11 SU this year and are 5-10 ATS. In total, the teams lost 5.4 units for moneyline gamblers this year and 8.3 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Houston games have an over/under record of 4-10 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 6-8-1.
The Rangers have lost 4.0 units and are 4-7 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in four of those games, as opposed to six that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 1.6 units and are 4-6 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in two of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under.
The right-handed Bartolo Colon is projected to start for the visiting Rangers. Colon is 0-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 10 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 12.71 ERA and three strikeouts over five and two-third innings).
The Astros are handing the ball to righty Justin Verlander (2-0, 1.45 ERA), who’s got 23 strikeouts and four walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 0.96. Verlander is 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA over one starts against Texas this year.
As a unit, Houston’s pitchers have given up 3.1 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 2.80 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.63, a WHIP of 1.15 and a K/9 of 9.9. In six games against AL West foes, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.41 and the bullpens ERA is 4.86.
The Houston hitters have put up 4.4 runs per contest, including 5.0 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .249/.343/.347 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Outfielder Josh Reddick and second baseman Jose Altuve have led the Astros batters this year. Reddick is hitting .286/.432/.543 with 10 hits, seven RBIs and eight runs scored, while Altuve is batting .351 with 20 hits, four RBIs and nine runs scored.
Reddick enjoyed batting against right-handed pitching at home in 2017, slashing .364/.397/.561 across 209 such plate appearances (compared to his overall season line of .314/.363/.484).
For the visitors, Texas pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.65 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 8.42 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.66, along with a WHIP of 1.64 and a K-per-9 of 8.16.
Rangers hitters have slashed .231/.306/.370 on their way to 3.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 2.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over the teams last five outings (1-4 SU).
Shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Adrian Beltre have led Texas hitters. Andrus is slashing .327/.426/.500 with 17 hits, five RBIs and seven runs scored, while Beltre is hitting .298/.365/.439 with 17 hits, three RBIs and six runs scored.
Beltre appeared to have a little trouble hitting righty pitching on the road in 2017. Over 166 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .255/.307/.458 (compared to his total season line of .312/.383/.532).
Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Rangers have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
- The Texas defense has allowed five errors over its last five games, compared to zero errors for Houston over its last five.
