Houston Astros vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Astros' Winning Streak Continues as They Face Struggling Rays in Series Finale

The Houston Astros enter the series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays on a seven-game winning streak, leading the AL West by 1.5 games. Meanwhile, the Rays have lost two in a row and are struggling to stay above .500, sitting in fourth place in the AL East. Ronel Blanco and Zack Littell will be the starting pitchers for the Astros and Rays, respectively. Houston is the betting favorite at -118, while Tampa Bay is a slight underdog at +100.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Astros -118 | Rays +106
• Spread: Astros -1.5 (+144) | Rays +1.5 (-165)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 54%.

Houston vs Tampa Bay Stats

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have been performing well in their recent games, only allowing a total of three runs in their last two games and five runs in their last three games. In their latest victory against the Rays, Alex Bregman and Jeremy Pena both hit solo home runs, while Yainer Diaz contributed with an RBI. Diaz leads the team in RBI for the season and has been producing consistently in the last few games. Bregman has also been a key player, hitting home runs in the last four games with a total of six RBI. The Astros have a balanced lineup, with their top five players all contributing at least 50 RBI each. They currently rank 10th in the Majors in team ERA and 13th in runs scored. The team holds a record of 32-29 on the road this season. Ronel Blanco will be starting in the series finale, boasting a 9-6 record with a 3.02 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. In his last start, Blanco allowed three runs in four innings, contributing to an 8-4 win over the Red Sox. The Astros have won two of his last three starts and Blanco has been performing consistently, with his last two starts only resulting in a total of five runs given up. Overall, the Astros have a power ranking of 11 and are ranked 12th in offense and 9th in defense, with an average of 4.64 runs scored and 4.12 runs allowed per game. Their record for the season is 64-55.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays have struggled offensively this season, ranking 28th in runs scored and totaling only five runs in their last three games. In their recent 3-2 loss to the Astros, they managed just five hits with Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe each driving in a run. The team's pitching ranks 16th in team ERA. Before the trade deadline, the Rays traded away Isaac Paredes and Randy Arozarena, their top home run and RBI leaders. Yandy Diaz leads the team in batting average but has only one RBI in the last nine games. They have a 31-33 home record. Zack Littell will start Game 3 with a 5-8 record, 4.11 ERA, and 1.35 WHIP. In his last start, he allowed three runs in a loss to the Orioles. The Rays had won his previous two starts. Their power ranking is 12 and they currently have a record of 59-60. The Astros recently went 1-2 in their last three matchups against the Rays.

Houston Astros Extend Winning Streak Facing Struggling Tampa Bay Rays

The Houston Astros are currently on a winning streak, having won seven consecutive games. Conversely, the Tampa Bay Rays have been struggling, losing two games in a row and four of their last five. The Rays have scored a mere three runs in this series, likely due to recent trades that have impacted their lineup. Facing Blanco, who has had mixed results in his last two starts, the Rays may encounter further challenges at the plate. Littell, who had a strong performance against the Astros in his previous outing giving up only one run, may provide some resistance. However, the Astros are expected to secure another victory through their clutch hitting and overall performance. I recommend taking the Astros to win this game at -120 to complete the series sweep.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]