Houston Astros vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Astros' Hunter Brown Shines as Tampa Bay Struggles in AL Showdown

The article discusses the conclusion of a series between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, as they face off in a three-game set with the Wednesday afternoon game. The Astros currently hold a 1-0 lead in the series after winning the opening game on Monday. The article provides a prediction for the outcome of the Wednesday game based on the starting pitchers and betting odds, with Hunter Brown starting for the Astros and Taj Bradley starting for the Rays. Houston is the betting favorite in this matchup. This information was published prior to the conclusion of Tuesday's game between the two teams.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Astros -134 | Rays +115
• Spread: Astros -1.5 (+121) | Rays +1.5 (-140)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 57%.

Houston vs Tampa Bay Stats

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros secured their second consecutive victory and their fifth win in their last seven games with a successful outing in the opening game of this series on Monday night. The team currently holds a record of 25-22 and sits in second place in the AL West, trailing the Mariners by 2.5 games for the division lead. In their recent match against Tampa Bay, Houston's offense was led by Jeremy Pena with three hits, supported by contributions from Isaac Paredes, Jake Meyers, and Cam Smith. Victor Caratini and Jake Meyers each hit home runs in the win. Pitcher Colton Gordon threw 5.1 innings, allowing three runs with seven strikeouts, while Bryan King earned the win in relief. Josh Hader closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning for his 12th save of the season. Hunter Brown is set to make his 10th start of the season for the Astros, boasting a 6-2 record with a 1.43 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 56.2 innings. In terms of power ranking, Houston is currently ranked 13th and is 21st in offense and 7th in defense, averaging 4.02 runs scored and allowing 3.59 runs against per game.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays suffered their fourth loss in their last six games, dropping their second consecutive game on Monday night. They were defeated by Houston, managing only seven hits in the contest with Yandy Diaz scoring their lone run. Despite Danny Jansen hitting his third homerun for the Rays, the team struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position, going just one for 10 and leaving six runners on base. Ryan Pepiot pitched six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, but did not factor in the decision. Manuel Rodriguez took the loss in relief. Taj Bradley will start for the Rays in their next game, coming off a loss in his last outing. Tampa Bay currently has a power ranking of 21 and ranks 23rd in offense, averaging 3.89 runs per game. Their defense ranks 13th, giving up an average of 4.09 runs per game. They have an overall record of 21-26. The Rays have won all three of their previous matchups against Houston.

Tampa Bay Struggles Continue as Houston's Brown Shines in AL Showdown

Tampa Bay has faced challenges this season, with factors such as playing in a temporary venue and overall team performance contributing to their struggles. Bradley has had moments of inconsistency, particularly when facing strong pitchers like Brown, who is a formidable candidate for the AL Cy Young award. Despite a recent loss, Brown demonstrated his skill by pitching a strong game against the Rangers. In contrast, Houston has been performing well and gaining momentum in the competitive AL West division. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay's difficulties are likely to continue, with Brown leading his team to another victory in this upcoming match.

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