The Houston Astros will head east to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. ATTSN Southwest will televise this AL matchup and the game is scheduled to get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Tampa Bay (+170) as the underdog to Houston (-180). Gamblers are able to wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 7.5 runs and -110 for under 7.5. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds standing at Astros -1.5 runs (-125) and Rays +1.5 runs (+105).
The Astros have gone 54-28 SU this year and are 45-36 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 4.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 6.0 units ATS. Houston is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 39-40 SU and 45-34 ATS. The team’s gained 4.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 10.8 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Rays games have an over/under record of 34-43-2 so far in 2018. Houston has an over/under record of 37-40-4.
The right-handed Lance McCullers Jr. is the probable starter for the visiting Astros. McCullers Jr. (8-3, 3.82 ERA) has recorded 99 strikeouts in 94.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays are going with righty Ryne Stanek (1-1, 1.99 ERA), who’s got 25 punchouts and 11 walks, as well as a WHIP of 0.93. Stanek is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start against Houston this year.
Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game and its starters own a 2.96 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.25 K/9. The bullpen has an outstanding ERA of just 2.63, along with a K-per-9 of 10.83.
The Astros offense has slashed .266/.340/.440 on its way to 5.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.0 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman have led Houston’s hitters. Altuve is hitting .345/.409/.491 with seven home runs, 41 RBIs, 55 runs and 12 stolen bases, while Bregman is hitting .277 with 14 homers, 49 RBIs, 50 runs and seven stolen bases.
For the home team, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.9 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have an ERA of 3.89, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.5. The bullpen has a 3.56 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters have produced 3.9 runs per outing, including 3.6 per game over its last 10 games and 5.0 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .269/.356/.450 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos have paced the Rays’ batters this year. Duffy is slashing .317/.364/.434 with four home runs, 23 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Ramos has produced a line of .292/.338/.465 with 11 homers, 39 RBIs and 24 runs.
The Astros have gained 11.3 units and are 30-20 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 23 of those games, compared to 24 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 2.5 units and are 27-25 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 25 of those games, compared to 26 that went under.
Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in just two of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- The Astros have won four of their last five games SU.
- Tampa Bay has recorded 19.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 23.4 over its last five.
- The Astros have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
