The Houston Astros are ready to face the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The game gets underway 4:10 p.m. ET and ATTSN Southwest will televise this AL showdown.
Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Astros are 55-29 SU and are 45-38 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 6.3 units for moneyline bettors and 3.9 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 40-41 SU and 46-34 ATS. They’ve gained 3.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 11.8 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 34-44-2 so far in 2018. Astros games have gone under 41 times, gone over 38 times and pushed on four occasions.
Justin Verlander will get the nod for the visiting Astros. The right-handed Verlander is 9-3 with a 1.82 ERA and 136 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 1.35 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays will turn to righty Ryne Stanek (1-1, 1.85 ERA), who has 28 strikeouts and 13 walks as well as a 0.95 WHIP. Stanek is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA over two starts against Houston this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has given up 3.9 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.84 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.50 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters have put up 3.9 runs per outing, including 3.5 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .228/.321/.371 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Rays batters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and catcher Wilson Ramos. Duffy is slashing .315/.361/.428 with four home runs, 23 RBIs and 22 runs scored, and Ramos has put up a line of .287/.332/.454 with 11 homers, 39 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Houston’s pitching staff allowed 3.0 runs per game and its starters own a 2.90 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.21 K/9. The bullpen has an excellent ERA of just 2.58, along with a K-per-9 of 10.88.
Astros hitters have slashed .264/.339/.437 on their way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.1 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman have paced Houston’s offense. Altuve is slashing .340/.406/.483 with seven home runs, 41 RBIs, 55 runs and 12 stolen bases, while Bregman (.277/.379/.513) is up to 15 homers, 51 RBIs, 51 runs and seven steals.
The Astros have gained 13.3 units and are 30-22 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 24 of those games, compared to 25 that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 3.5 units and are 28-25 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in 25 of those games, compared to 27 that’ve gone under.
Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in four of Houston’s last seven games.
- The Rays have won six of their last seven games SU.
- Houston fielders have committed four errors over their last five games, compared to zero errors for Tampa Bay over its last five.
- The Astros have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit eight over their last 10.
