Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction MLB Picks 8/3/24

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Tampa Bay Rays

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Houston Astros

Recent betting trends in games played between the Rays and Astros

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Rays vs Astros game

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

In their last series the Rays took on the Miami Marlins. Tampa Bay managed a 9-3 win in the opener of that set, then fell 6-2 in the Wednesday matchup. In the Friday opener versus the Astros, the Rays took a tough loss 3-2. Starting pitcher Shane Baz finished after 5.1 innings and two earned runs.

In the starter slot for the Rays on Saturday it’ll be Zack Littell. This year Littell is 4-7 with a 4.18 ERA in 21 starts. Over 194 career games (39 starts) Littell is 20-18 with a 4.12 ERA.

Houston Astros Betting Preview

Over on the Houston side, they played the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. The Astros lost the first two installments of that set 5-3 and 6-2 before halting the sweep with a 5-4 win Wednesday. On Friday the Astros out-hit the Rays 9-5. Yusei Kikuchi had 5.2 innings, two earned and 11 Ks in the start.

Ronel Blanco will take the mound for the start on Saturday. So far Blanco is 9-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 20 starts. Over 44 career games (27 starts) Blanco is 11-6 with a 3.55 ERA.

Rays vs Astros Pick Injury Notes

Astros SP Lance McCullers (forearm) hasn’t resumed throwing yet. SP Justin Verlander (neck) threw from the main mound this week.

Total Runs Facts

• Four of the Rays' last five road games against AL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Four of the Astros' last five night games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Astros' last four games against AL East opponents.
• The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Rays' last three games.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Yordan Alvarez has recorded a Double in four of the Astros' last five games against AL opponents.
• Yordan Alvarez has hit a home run in three of the Astros' last five games against AL East opponents.
• Jake Meyers has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Astros' last five night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
• Jeremy Pena has scored a run in seven of the Astros' last eight games against the Rays.
• Yainer Diaz has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Astros' last nine home games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros' last six home games against the Rays.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against AL East opponents.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in four of his last six road appearances against the Astros.
• Josh Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in three of the Rays' last four games against AL opponents.
• Brandon Lowe has scored at least one run in three of the Rays' last four games as underdogs.
• Jose Siri has recorded at least one total base in each of the Rays' last six games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in each of the Rays' last five games as road underdogs against AL West opponents.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 appearances with the Rays as road underdogs.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction

I’ll try the Rays. This one’s going to depend on the starters, though. Littell is coming off 7.0 clean frames versus the Reds in a victory. That said, Littell gave up five earned in 5.2 innings in the start prior to that. As for Blanco, he’s given up eight earned in his last 10.0 innings for an 0-1 record over two starts.

On Friday the Rays had an early 2-0 lead but couldn’t score after the first inning. Of the five hits, two came from Yandy Diaz (along with a run). Not much else happened on offense outside of Dylan Carlson’s homer. Tampa needs an offensive bounce-back Saturday to even things up.