From Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, we have an AL matchup between the Astros and Rays. First pitch for this one is set for 6:50 PM ET. Ronel Blanco is starting for the Astros, and they are currently on a seven-game winning streak and are 64-55 overall, putting them first in the AL West. The Rays are 4th in the AL East with a record of 59-60 and they will be looking to end a two-game losing streak.
Currently, the Astros are favored on the money line, with the odds sitting at -121 compared to the Rays at +102. The over/under line is at 8 runs.
Astros Aim for Eighth Straight Win as Ronel Blanco Takes the Mound Against Rays
Houston has won seven straight games and leads the AL West by 1.5 games over the Mariners. Overall, they are 64-55 and 21-18 in the AL West. The Astros are 32-26 at home and 32-29 on the road. Today, they are favored on the road and have an overall record of 48-39 when favored. The Astros have won two straight series and are 21-16-1 overall.
Today, the over/under line for the Astros vs. the Rays is set at 8 runs, and Houston’s over/under record is 47-68 this season. Their combined run average is 8.7 runs per game. Houston’s run line record is 61-58 overall and 34-27 on the road. The Astros are starting right-hander Ronel Blanco, who is 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA this season. Blanco’s last outing was a no-decision vs. the Red Sox, and he has given up at least two earned runs in three straight starts. The Astros are 2nd in batting average this season, and Yordan Alvarez has a .306 batting average and 25 home runs.
Rays Look to Upset Astros as Underdogs with Littell on the Mound
The Rays are 59-60 overall and trail the Yankees by 11 games in the AL East. They are 6.5 games behind the Red Sox for the final Wild Card spot. As the underdog, the Rays are 28-33, and they are 31-27 when favored. Today, they are facing the Astros, and the over/under line is set at 8 runs. The under has hit in their last three games.
Yandy Díaz leads the Rays with a .270 batting average, and he has 51 RBIs. Overall, the Rays are 28th in runs per game at 3.9. Zack Littell gets the start for the Rays today, and he is 5-8 with a 4.12 ERA. He is averaging 8.16 strikeouts per nine innings. The Rays have been better against the run line as the underdog, going 37-24, compared to 22-36 as the favorite. Overall, they are 59-60 against the run line, and they have a negative run differential of -0.5 runs per game.
Astros Edge Out Victory: Betting Tips and Player Props for a 5-4 Win
We see the Astros coming out on top in this one by a score of 5-4. Given that they are on the money line at -121, this is the route we recommend going. In terms of a parlay, you could look to pair the Astros with another team or look at an Astros run line, as we have them winning by just one run.
If you’re looking for a player prop, we like Ronel Blanco to finish with six strikeouts. As for Zack Littell, he’s projected to finish with four K’s.
