The Tampa Bay Rays (98-60) and Houston Astros (92-66) close out a three-game series Thursday at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze the lines around the Rays vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Collin McHugh is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rays. McHugh is 6-1 with a 1.60 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, and 1.7 BB/9 over 62 IP across six starts and 29 relief appearances.
- Expected to serve as the game’s opener, with LHP Ryan Yarbrough coming on for bulk innings. Yarbrough owns a 5.09 ERA through 150 1/3 IP.
RHP Lance McCullers, Jr., is the scheduled starter for the Astros. He is 12-5 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, and 4.3 BB/9 over 156 1/3 IP through 27 starts.
- Walked 4 batters and allowed 3 ER over 6 IP in his last start Sept. 23 at the Los Angeles Angels. The 3 runs marked the most McCullers had yielded in a single start since Aug. 25.
- Owns a 2.48 ERA since Aug. 31.
- Has held current Tampa Bay batters to a whiff-heavy .530 OPS in past meetings.
- Makes this start on six days of rest. Has held foes to a .672 OPS overall throughout his career but on rest intervals of six days or more that number drops to .658. He’s started six games on six or more days of rest this season and held opposing hitters to a .452 OPS.
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 11:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Astros -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rays +1.5 (-155) | Astros -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -120 | U: -105)
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Prediction
Rays 4, Astros 3
Money line (ML)
Houston took Tuesday’s series opener and snapped a four-game Tampa Bay win streak, but Tampa Bay battled back with a 7-0 win Wednesday. The Rays are a robust 27-13 since Aug. 16, and they’ve been cranking out impressive numbers in the batter’s box and on the mound.
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. Houston reached base just four times in Wednesday’s loss.
Peg McCullers as being somewhat overrated. BACK THE RAYS (+135).
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
PASS on the juice-drowned prices here.
Over/Under (O/U)
Both offenses figure to be too far out over their skis with their on-paper production, and they may be in “get out of Dodge” mode with one eye on the postseason. BACK THE UNDER 8.5 (-105).
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