The Texas Rangers will take on their divisional rival Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. ATTSN Southwest will televise the matchup and the game will get going at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Odds
Vegas has listed Houston (-270) as the favorite over Texas (+235). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for even money (+100) and the under for -120. Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the most recent odds standing at Rangers +1.5 runs (+110) and Astros -1.5 runs (-130).
The Astros are 25-16 SU and 20-20 ATS. The teams lost 4.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.8 units against the spread (ATS). Houston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in six of those seven. The Rangers have gone 16-25 SU this year and are 16-24 ATS. Overall, the teams lost 0.9 units for moneyline bettors in this young season and 12.2 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in three of those seven.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 14-24-2 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 21-16-3.
Left-hander Matt Moore will get the start for the visiting Rangers. Moore is 1-4 with a 7.71 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Houston this year.
The Astros are turning to lefty Dallas Keuchel (2-5, 3.53 ERA), who has 37 strikeouts and 14 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.18. Keuchel is 0-1 with four strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA across one starts against Texas this year.
Texas pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.10 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.11 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.37, along with a K-per-9 of 8.37.
Rangers hitters have slashed .230/.302/.394 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game this year, including 3.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Outfielder Nomar Mazara and first baseman Joey Gallo have led Texas hitters. Mazara is slashing .291/.352/.536 with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Gallo (.204/.287/.483) has produced 12 homers, 25 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Mazara didn’t do as well hitting against lefty pitching on the road in 2017. Over 58 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .196/.224/.286 (compared to his total season line of .253/.323/.422).
For the home team, Houston’s pitchers have yielded 2.7 runs per game overall this season. The clubs starters have a 2.30 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 3.08, a WHIP of 1.06 and a K/9 of 9.7. In 22 games against AL West foes, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.30 and the bullpens ERA is 3.57.
The Houston hitters have put up 4.8 runs per contest, including 5.2 per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .293/.366/.529 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Astros hitters have been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder George Springer. Correa is slashing .295/.380/.511 with six home runs, 27 RBIs and 25 runs scored, and Springer’s line sits at .296/.363/.506 with eight homers, 26 RBIs and 33 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .315/.391/.550, Correa seemed to enjoy hitting lefty pitching last year, slashing .391/.457/.609 over 105 plate appearances.
The Rangers have lost 2.4 units and are 4-8 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in seven of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 3.1 units and are 7-7 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to eight which went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Astros have won four of their last five games SU.
- Texas has posted 17.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 17.2 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 12 over their last 10.
