The Houston Astros will be taking on their in-state foe Texas Rangers in a Tuesday night game. ATTSN Southwest will showcase the matchup and the opening pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Texas (receiving +185 odds) is the big home-team underdog to Houston and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total currently sit at -110 for both the over and the under. The game’s runline odds sit at -140 for taking the Astros -1.5 runs and +120 for the Rangers +1.5 runs.
The Rangers are 2-2 straight up (SU) and 2-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 1.8 units for moneyline bettors and 0.5 units ATS. The Astros have gone 2-3 SU this year and are 1-3 ATS. Overall, the club has lost 2.6 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 1.8 units ATS.
Rangers games have had an over/under record of 3-0 in 2019. The Astros have an over/under record of 0-4.
Justin Verlander (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Astros. The right-handed Verlander struck out 290 hitters in 214 innings last year (with only 37 walks) while finishing the season 16-9 overall with a 2.52 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. He made five starts against the Rangers in 2018 and compiled a 2-2 record against them with a 2.03 ERA and 39 strikeouts.
The Rangers are going with righty Shelby Miller as their starter. Miller recorded 19 strikeouts across 15 innings last year with eight walks, while finishing the season 0-4 overall with a 10.69 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP.
Texas’ pitching staff has yielded 7.5 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The team’s starters have a 9.35 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.79 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 6.3 K/9. In one divisional games, Rangers starters have an ERA of 3.00 and the bullpen’s ERA is 1.50.
Texas’ hitters are putting up 6.0 runs per outing so far this season and the team’s hit .238/.342/.476 to begin the year.
The Rangers’ hitters have been led by shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. Andrus is slashing .375/.412/.563 with six hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, and Cabrera’s line sits at .357/.375/.857 with five hits, five RBIs and three runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Houston’s pitching staff allowed 2.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 10.86 K/9. The bullpen has an outstanding ERA of just 0.79, along with a K-per-9 of 12.71.
The Astros offense has slashed .219/.286/.375 on its way to 2.2 runs scored per game in 2019.
Houston’s offensive production has been powered by outfielders George Springer and Michael Brantley. Springer is hitting .250/.318/.550 with five hits, four RBIs and two runs scored. Brantley is slashing .313/.353/.563 with five hits and three RBIs.
The Astros have lost 3.6 units and are 0-3 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in zero of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rangers have netted 1.5 units and are 1-0 ATS when facing a righty starter.
Astros at Rangers MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Astros went 12-7 SU against the Rangers last season.
- The Rangers’ bullpen managed 3.63 ERA against the Astros last year.
- The Astros have a team OPS of .661 this season and an OPS of .518 when facing right-handed pitchers. The Rangers’ OPS sits at .819 overall and their right / left split is nearly identical.
