Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/31/2025

Game Time: 4:10 pm ET, Saturday, May 31, 2025

Venue:  Daikin Park, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  SCHN

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +100, Astros -120; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +100, Astros -120; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +100, Astros -120; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  29-27 (2nd place, AL East)

Houston Astros:  30-26 (2nd place, AL West)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  8-2 last 10

Houston Astros:  6-4 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Minnesota Twins 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 29-27 record overall and have a road record of 11-8. This is the 3rd game of a 4-game series with the Astros on Saturday with the 2nd game still to be played on Friday. The Rays won the series opener on Thursday. Their offense ranks 19th in the MLB with a .694 OPS. Ryan Pepiot is their starting pitcher on Friday while Zack Littell is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 4-5 with a 3.97 ERA this season. His team won their last 6 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 ER, 0 HR, and 0 BB with 4 Ks on 3 hits through 6.1 IP against the Minnesota Twins.

The Astros are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 2-game series against the Athletics 2-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 30-26 record overall and have a home record of 20-11. This is the 3rd game of a 4-game series with the Rays on Saturday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Friday. The Astros lost the 1st game of this series on Thursday. Their offense ranks 13th in the MLB with a .717 OPS. Framber Valdez is their starting pitcher on Friday while rookie pitcher Colton Gordon is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 0-0 with a 5.52 ERA this season. His team won their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 3 earned runs, 0 homers, and 0 BB with 4 strikeouts on 7 hits through 5 innings played against the Seattle Mariners.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Astros have looked good in their games this season with their 30-26 record overall which has them right near the top of the AL West and in the division race. They have looked a lot better in their own ballpark too with their 20-11 home record this year. Meanwhile, the Rays have looked good in their games this season with their 29-27 record overall which has them right near the top of the AL East, but that record has them in the Wild Card race and not really in the division race at the moment. They haven't been a bad road team either with their 11-8 road record. The Rays already took the 1st game of this series on Thursday in a game that they scored a lot of runs in, and they are the hotter team coming into this one as they are 8-2 in their last 10 games now. They also have the better pitching matchup here with Littell on the mound for them. Littell is 4-5 with a 3.97 ERA this season and the team has had a ton of success with him starting. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start and the Rays have now won 6 games in a row with him starting. The Astros are going with Gordon in this one and he hasn't looked great this year. He is 0-0 with a 5.52 ERA and he has been giving up a lot of runs in his starts. The team has won 3 games in a row with him starting, but he did give up 3 earned runs in his last start which will be a problem against this hot Rays offense. He is also in his rookie season so he doesn't have the same experience that the Rays have in their pitching staff. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game. 

Rays Astros Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, May 31, 2025 (4:10 pm ET start time) is Rays 7 Astros 3.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 94-86 (+7.6 units) on the moneyline in road games. 54-42 (+10.3 units) on the moneyline vs. a team with a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.45 or better. 51-38 (+9.3 units) on the moneyline against left-handed starters. 53-39 UNDER vs. a team with a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.45 or better.

Houston Astros: 214-176 (-14.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 106-94 (-33.4 units) on the moneyline in home games. 134-108 (-12.9 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse. 85-56 UNDER vs. AL teams scoring 4.4 or less runs/game on the season.

Tampa Bay Rays:  J. DeLuca (CF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. T. Jankowski (RF) Ten Day IL - Groin. H. Kim (SS) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. H. Bigge (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Lat. S. McClanahan (SP) Sixty Day IL - Triceps. J. Mangum (RF) Ten Day IL - Groin. R. Palacios (LF) Ten Day IL - Knee. A. Faedo (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. N. Lavender (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Houston Astros:  C. Walker (1B) Day To Day - Hand. R. Blanco (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. H. Wesneski (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. Y. Alvarez (LF) Ten Day IL - Hand. S. Arrighetti (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Thumb. L. Garcia (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Javier (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Trammell (LF) Ten Day IL - Calf. P. Leon (RF) Ten Day IL - Knee. J. France (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

“It feels like we're doing some good things. Our offense showed a lot right there to answer right back immediately off a really good pitcher and put up a five spot. You can take one or two right then. Five is pretty outstanding.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s win against the Astros in their game on Thursday.

“This is the best he’s felt. Obviously, he hit off the machine and he ran the bases. He’s getting really close. This is the best I’ve seen him and the best he’s felt. Really good news.” - Joe Espada on the injury to Yordan Alvarez.

Josh Lowe (L) RF

Brandon Lowe (L) 2B

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Chandler Simpson (L) LF

Kameron Misner (L) CF

José Caballero (R) SS

Matt Thaiss (L) C

Jeremy Peña (R) SS

Isaac Paredes (R) 3B

Jose Altuve (R) DH

Victor Caratini (S) 1B

Jake Meyers (R) CF

Yainer Diaz (R) C

Cam Smith (R) RF

Zach Dezenzo (R) LF

Mauricio Dubón (R) 2B

Batting Average:  Richie Palacios (.750)

Hits:  Jonathan Aranda (54)

Home Runs:  Brandon Lowe (11)

RBI:  Junior Caminero (32)

Stolen Bases:  Chandler Simpson (19)

Wins:  Shane Baz (4)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (10)

ERA:  Joe Boyle (0.00)

Batting Average:  Jeremy Peña (.300)

Hits:  Jeremy Peña (64)

Home Runs:  Isaac Paredes (11)

RBI:  Isaac Paredes (32)

Stolen Bases:  Jake Meyers (8)

Wins:  Hunter Brown (7)

Saves:  Josh Hader (14)

ERA:  Shawn Dubin (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (11th season)

Houston Astros: Joe Espada (2nd season)