Astros vs. Rays Prediction
After a pretty big upset at home on Friday night, will the Tampa Bay Rays find a way past the Houston Astros again this afternoon at 4:05PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
971 Houston Astros at 972 Tampa Bay Rays
Saturday, June 30, 2018
4:10PM ET – Tropicana Field
TV: SUN (TB); ATSW (Hou)
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers, the Astros are favored on the road today, as they are getting odds of -190 to win. The Rays are listed with a money line of +170 to win, while the over/under total has been set at 7 runs. The public betting for this game is currently unavailable. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Astros edged
The Astros and Rays played their second straight 1-run game on Friday. Houston got a 1-0 win on Thursday and suffered a 3-2 loss on Friday. Houston is 55-29 overall this season and 30-12 on the road. The Astros are putting up 5.11 runs per game this season while allowing 3.04 per game.
Justin Verlander takes the mound for Houston this afternoon. He has started 17 games this year and has a 9-3 record with a 1.82 ERA and 0.81 WHIP. Verlander has 136 strikeouts and 23 walks over 113.2 innings of work.
Rays’ streak ends
The Rays grabbed their sixth win in seven games on Friday with the 3-2 victory. They have allowed a total of three runs in their last four games. Tampa is now 40-41 overall and 21-17 at home. The Rays are averaging only 3.89 runs per game while allowing just 3.88.
Tampa hands the ball to Ryne Stanek this afternoon. The reliever has started eight games this year, but not went more than two innings in them. Still, he hasn’t given up a run in 10 straight appearances. On the year, Stanek has a 1.85 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He has 28 strikeouts with 13 walks over 24.1 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Houston
The Astros are just 11-26 in their last 37 games on astroturf. However, they have won Verlander’s last four road starts.
Tampa
The Rays have won nine of their last 12 Game 3’s of a series. They also have won nine of their last 10 at home.
Prediction:
I don’t really care for this reliever/starter thing Tampa is doing, but it has worked out pretty well for Stanek. Tampa has won three of his last four appearances and given up just one run or less in all four. Verlander has great numbers, but has struggled as of late, giving up at least three runs in three of his last four starts. Given how well Tampa has pitched this week, I think they are worth taking for a major upset.
The Pick: Tampa Rays +170