Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction MLB Picks 8/2/24

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros meet Friday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. We will examine:

The Tampa Bay Rays recent form and player performance

The Houston Astros recent form and player performance

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

This week the Rays played a pair of games versus the Miami Marlins. Tampa Bay won 9-3 in the opener of that set, then took a 6-2 loss in Wednesday’s game. Rays starter Taj Bradley gave up four earned on four hits and a walk in 5.0 innings in the loss.

On Friday the Rays will send out Shane Baz for the start. This year Baz is 0-1 with a 3.66 ERA over four starts. Baz is 3-3 with a 3.90 career ERA in 13 starts.

Houston Astros Betting Preview

Over on the Houston side, they’re coming off a series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Houston had a pretty choppy performance in that set, losing 5-3 and 6-2 in the first two games before staving off the sweep with a 5-4 victory in the finale.

On Friday the Astros will debut Yusei Kikuchi as their starter. This year Kikuchi is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA in 22 starts. Kikuchi is 36-46 with a 4.72 ERA in 156 career games (144 starts).

Rays vs Astros Pick Injury Notes

Astros SP Lance McCullers (forearm) has not yet resumed throwing.

Total Runs Facts

• Five of the Astros’ last six night games against AL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Five of the Rays’ last six road games have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last six games.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last three night games.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Yordan Alvarez has recorded a Double in each of the Astros’ last four games against AL opponents.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 11 night games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last eight appearances against AL East opponents.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros’ last seven night games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Yordan Alvarez has hit a home run in three of the Astros’ last four games against AL East opponents.
• Kyle Tucker has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last six home appearances after not playing the previous day.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in four of his last five appearances at Minute Maid Park against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Brandon Lowe has scored at least one run in five of his last six road appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five road appearances against the Astros.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Double in three of his last four appearances against AL opponents.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 Friday appearances against teams that held a winning record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 Friday appearances against teams that held a winning record.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one Single in nine of his last 10 appearances after not playing the previous day.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction

I’ll stay with the Rays. Probably not touching this one, though. Baz has been okay but not great over his last three starts. In that time he’s got five earned over 13.2 innings total on 12 hits and eight walks. As for Kikuchi, he’s been struggling lately. In his last three starts Kikuchi is 0-1 with 16 earned runs in 14.1 innings on 19 hits and seven walks.

That said, the change in scenery might do Kikuchi some good. I could see a quality start coming in for the Astros, which would greatly help their chances at a W. I’m still leaning toward Tampa Bay but it’s a coin flip.