Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/30/2023

Game Time: 2:10 pm ET, Sunday, July 30, 2023

Venue:  Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  Sportsnet SW

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -135, Astros +115; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -135, Astros +115; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -135, Astros +115; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  63-43 (2nd place, AL East)

Houston Astros:  58-46 (2nd place, AL West)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  3-7 last 10

Houston Astros:  6-4 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a loss and split their 2-game series against the Miami Marlins 1-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 63-43 record overall and have a road record of 26-24. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Astros on Sunday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Saturday. They also won the series opener of this series on Friday. Their offense ranks 5th in the MLB with a .771 OPS. Rookie pitcher Taj Bradley is their starting pitcher on Saturday while Tyler Glasnow is making his start in this game on Sunday. He is 4-3 with a 3.36 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 8 Ks on 2 hits through 7 IP against the Miami Marlins.

The Astros are entering this series off a loss but won their 3-game series against the Texas Rangers 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 58-46 record overall and have a home record of 27-24. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Sunday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Saturday. They also lost the 1st game of this series on Friday. Their offense ranks 15th in the MLB with a .728 OPS. Hunter Brown is their starting pitcher on Saturday while Brandon Bielak is making his start in this game on Sunday. He is 5-5 with a 3.62 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 3 earned runs, 2 homers, and 4 BB with 5 strikeouts on 6 hits through 4.2 innings played against the Texas Rangers.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have been one of the best teams in the MLB all season but lately they have slipped down to 2nd place in the AL East and even their offense has been slipping too. Their pitching has still been great in their games though and they have also been starting to put up more runs in their games again. The Astros have also been getting hot lately after they took a slower start to the season and they are trying to chase down the Rangers in 1st place right now but their pitching, which has been so good all season, hasn't been as good in their games lately and they have been giving up a lot more runs now which have been costing them in their games. The Astros are also starting Bielak in this game and he hasn't been bad this season but he hasn't been great either and has been starting to give up a lot more runs in his starts lately. Meanwhile, the Rays have Glasnow starting in this game and he has been really reliable on the mound since coming back from his injury. He will continue to pitch well against the Astros here and the Rays will be able to edge this game out with the better pitching matchup as their offense is also getting hot once again. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game.

Rays Astros Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Sunday, July 30, 2023 (2:10 pm ET start time) is Rays 6 Astros 3.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 8-15 (-7.8 units) on the moneyline on the road when the money line is +125 to -125. 26-24 (-4.2 units) on the moneyline in road games. 14-7 UNDER in July games. 14-8 UNDER on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5. 

Houston Astros: 18-13 (+8.4 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 or higher. 33-16 (+14.6 units) on the moneyline when the total is 8.5 to 10. 7-3 UNDER against AL East opponents. 12-5 UNDER when the total is 9 to 9.5.

Tampa Bay Rays:  Z. Eflin (SP) Ques Tues - Knee. T. Walls (SS) Out indefinitely - Oblique. J. Fleming (SP) Early Aug - Elbow. F. Mejia (C) Early Sept - Knee. D. Rasmussen (RP) out for season - Elbow. A. Kittredge (RP) Early Aug - Elbow. G. Cleavinger (RP) out for season - Knee. J. Springs (RP) out for season - Elbow. S. Baz (SP) out for season - Elbow.

Houston Astros:  J. Urquidy (SP) Early Aug - Shoulder. M. Brantley (DH) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. L. McCullers Jr. (SP) out for season - Elbow. L. Garcia (SP) out for season - Elbow.

“It was a big at-bat against a really tough pitcher … that’s what he can do. He can change the game with his speed and certainly impacted it right there.” - Kevin Cash on Jose Siri after his team’s win against the Astros in their game on Friday.

“That was a hustle double and Siri, out of the box he was thinking two. That was good baserunning on his part.” - Dusty Baker after his team’s loss against the Rays in their game on Friday.

Yandy Diaz (R) DH

Wander Franco (S) SS

Luke Raley (L) 1B

Randy Arozarena (R) LF

Brandon Lowe (L) 2B

Isaac Paredes (R) 3B

Josh Lowe (L) RF

Jose Siri (R) CF

Rene Pinto (R) C

Jose Altuve (R) 2B

Jeremy Pena (R) SS

Kyle Tucker (L) RF

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Yordan Alvarez (L) DH

Jose Abreu (R) 1B

Chas McCormick (R) CF

Corey Julks (R) LF

Martin Maldonado (R) C

Batting Average:  Yandy Diaz (.315)

Hits:  Yandy Diaz (104)

Home Runs:  Jose Siri (20)

RBI:  Randy Arozarena (62)

Stolen Bases:  Wander Franco (28)

Wins:  Shane McClanahan (11)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (13)

ERA:  Chase Anderson (0.00)

Batting Average:  Kyle Tucker (.304)

Hits:  Kyle Tucker (112)

Home Runs:  Kyle Tucker (18)

RBI:  Kyle Tucker (69)

Stolen Bases:  Kyle Tucker (19)

Wins:  Framber Valdez (8)

Saves:  Ryan Pressly (24)

ERA:  Hector Neris (1.41)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (9th season)

Houston Astros: Dusty Baker (4th season)