The Tampa Bay Rays (97-60) and Houston Astros (92-65) continue their three-game series Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is slated for an 8:10 p.m. ET start time. Let’s analyze the lines around the Rays vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Drew Rasmussen is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rays. Rasmussen has appeared in 25 games as a reliever and nine as a starter. He is 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, and 3.2 BB/9 over 71 IP.
- Owns a 1.99 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 45 1/3 IP since the All-Star break.
- The second-year MLB hurler has a 3.54 ERA over 86 1/3 career innings.
RHP Luis Garcia is the scheduled starter for the Astros. He is 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, and 2.9 BB/9 over 150 1/3 IP through 29 games (27 starts).
- Owns a 2.19 ERA and 0.96 WHIP at Minute Maid this season. Those home efforts also include a sharp 2.1 BB/9.
- Has a 1.52 ERA in his last four starts at home.
- Coming off 6 scoreless frames against the Los Angeles Angels, although he walked 3 against just 1 strikeout in that start.
Rays at Astros odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 3 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Astros -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rays +1.5 (-180) | Astros -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
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Prediction
Rays 5, Astros 4
Money line (ML)
Houston took Tuesday’s series opener and snapped a four-game Tampa Bay win streak. Still, the Rays are a robust 26-13 since Aug. 16 with a .788 OPS and 3.55 ERA over that span.
The Astros headed into this potential playoff preview series on a four-game losing skid. Houston had batted just .160/.264/.272 (.536 OPS) over those four losses.
Garcia has scuffled with his command over his last three starts, and his expected ERA figures over a longer view paint a picture worthy of fading.
Side with a Rays offense which went into this series averaging 5.9 runs per game on a .797 OPS in the second half. BACK THE RAYS (+115).
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Analytics are down a bit on Tampa Bay’s overall bullpen effort this season. Consider some partial insurance on the above play by making a partial-unit play on the RAYS +1.5 (-180). A loss by 1 run gets a bit of recompense; an outright victory gets watered down a bit.
Over/Under (O/U)
Both offenses figure to be too far out over their skis with their on-paper production, and the opposite holds true for the starters in this matchup. PASS.
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