The Houston Astros will welcome the Texas Rangers to Minute Maid Park in Game 0 of an AL West doubleheader. ATTSN Southwest will televise the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Odds
Vegas has listed Houston (-245) as the favorite over Texas (+225). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over 8.5 runs and -120 for under 8.5. The game’s most recent runline odds stand at +100 for taking the Rangers +1.5 runs and -120 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Astros are 23-15 straight up (SU) and 17-20 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.5 units ATS. The Rangers have gone 17-18 SU this year and are 21-13 ATS. In total, the club has gained 5.5 units for moneyline bettors in this young season and 5.0 units ATS.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 17-19-1 so far in 2019. The Rangers have been a decent over bet with a total record of 21-12-1.
Right-hander Lance Lynn is the probable starter for Texas. Lynn is 4-2 with a 5.75 ERA and 36 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-0, 0.00 ERA and nine strikeouts over five innings).
The Astros are turning to Justin Verlander (5-1, 2.86 ERA). Verlander has 60 punchouts and 12 walks, along with a WHIP of 0.87. Verlander is 1-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 4.09 ERA over two starts against Texas this year.
Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.14, a WHIP of 1.07 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.7. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.80, a WHIP of 1.01 and a K/9 of 9.1. In 17 games against AL West opponents, Astros starters have an ERA of 4.58 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.01.
The Houston offense has put up 5.1 runs per outing, including 5.8 per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .311/.392/.579 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Astros’ batters have been led by outfielders Michael Brantley and George Springer. Brantley is hitting .340/.390/.603 with nine home runs, 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored, and Springer’s line is .301/.386/.623 with 13 homers, 33 RBIs and 29 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.58 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 8.11 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.71, along with a K-per-9 of 7.45.
Rangers hitters have slashed .249/.337/.451 on their way to 5.8 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo have led Texas’ offense. Andrus is hitting .336/.388/.521 with five home runs, 23 RBIs, 22 runs and eight stolen bases, while Choo (.313/.405/.523) has produced four homers, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
The Rangers have gained 5.7 units and are 15-10 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 15 of those games, compared to 10 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 2.0 units and are 13-15 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 14 of those games, compared to 13 that went under the total.
Rangers vs. Astros Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in five of Houston’s last seven games.
- The Rangers have a total OPS of .788 this season and an OPS of .815 against right-handed pitchers. The Astros’ OPS sits at .845 overall and .832 against righties.
- The Astros have won five of their last six games SU.
- Houston has posted 26.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 26.6 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 19 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 21 over their last 10.
