Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/02/2024

Game Time: 8:10 pm ET, Friday, August 2, 2024

Venue:  Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  SCHN

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +136, Astros -162; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +135, Astros -160; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +135, Astros -160; Over/Under:  8 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  55-53 (4th place, AL East)

Houston Astros:  56-52 (1st place, AL West)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  6-4 last 10

Houston Astros:  4-6 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 55-53 record overall and have a road record of 25-24. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Astros on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 22nd in the MLB with a .687 OPS. Taj Bradley was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Shane Baz is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 0-1 with a 3.66 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 2 ER, 0 HR, and 2 BB with 7 Ks on 2 hits through 6 IP against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Astros are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 56-52 record overall and have a home record of 31-24. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .737 OPS. Framber Valdez was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Yusei Kikuchi is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 4-9 with a 4.75 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 5 earned runs, 1 homer, and 2 BB with 5 strikeouts on 8 hits through 4.2 innings played against the Texas Rangers.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays haven't looked great in their games for most of the season, but now they have pulled themselves over .500 with their 55-53 record overall. They are 25-24 in their road games too, but lately they have looked a lot better with their 6-4 record in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Astros have looked good in their games this season with their 56-52 record overall which has them leading the AL West. They have looked a lot better in their home games too with their 31-24 home record, but lately they have fallen into a bit of a slump with their 4-6 record in their last 10 games. They lost their last series at home to the Pirates and the Rays could give them some trouble here now that they are playing better lately. The Rays are going to have Baz on the mound in this one and he is 0-1 with a 3.66 ERA this season. He hasn't looked bad in his starts lately, giving up 2 earned runs in his last one, and the team has been finding success with him lately too, winning 2 of their last 3 games with him starting. The Astros are going with newly acquired starter Kikuchi who they got in a trade from the Blue Jays, but he hasn't been having a good season in Toronto. He is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA and has been giving up a ton of runs in his starts all year. His team won 2 of their last 3 games with him starting, but he also gave up 5 earned runs in his last start, and that has been a common theme for him. The change of scenery isn't going to help much for Kikuchi and the Rays have a lineup that is quite familiar with him from his days in Toronto. The Rays will take advantage of this pitching matchup and get a win against an Astros team that has been struggling lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game. 

Rays Astros Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, August 2, 2024 (8:10 pm ET start time) is Rays 6 Astros 4.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 30-61 (-28.20 units) on the first 5 moneyline in their last 91 games. 36-50 (-24.55 units) on the first 5 runline in their last 86 games. 18-14 to the under in their last 32 away games. 

Houston Astros: 23-12 (+9.35 units) on the moneyline in their last 35 games. 31-19 (+13 units) on the runline in their last 50 games. 53-38 to the under in their last 91 games. 

Tampa Bay Rays:  R. Palacios (LF) Ques Fri - Knee. R. Pepiot (SP) Out indefinitely - Knee. R. Lovelady (RP) Out indefinitely - Forearm. J. Waguespack (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. W. Franco (SS) Out indefinitely - Poss. Suspension. D. Rasmussen (RP) Mid Aug - Elbow. S. McClanahan (SP) out for season - Elbow.

Houston Astros:  K. Tucker (RF) Out indefinitely - Shin. K. Graveman (RP) out for season - Shoulder. J. Verlander (SP) Early July - Neck. C. Javier (SP) out of season - Forearm. J. Urquidy (SP) out for season - Forearm. B. Sousa (RP) out for season - Shoulder. O. Ortega (RP) Late July - Elbow. P. Murfee (SP) Mid July - Elbow. L. McCullers Jr. (SP) Early July - Forearm. L. Garcia (SP) Mid July - Elbow.

“Still, I thought he kept us in the ballgame when it wasn't coming easy for him.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s loss against the Marlins in their game on Wednesday.

“Dubón with people on base, you know you're going to get contact. Big swing, huge swing.” - Joe Espada after his team’s win against the Pirates in their game on Wednesday.

Y Díaz (R) 1B

B Lowe (L) 2B

C Morel (R) DH

J Lowe (L) RF

J Caballero (R) 3B

R Palacios (L) LF

J DeLuca (R) CF

T Walls (S) SS

A Jackson (R) C

J Altuve (R) 2B

A Bregman (R) 3B

Y Alvarez (L) LF

Y Diaz (R) C

J Peña (R) SS

J Singleton (L) 1B

J Meyers (R) CF

V Caratini (S) DH

C McCormick (R) RF

Batting Average:  Amed Rosario (.307)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (109)

Home Runs:  Jose Siri (14)

RBI:  Yandy Díaz (49)

Stolen Bases:  José Caballero (28)

Wins:  Garrett Cleavinger (7)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (20)

ERA:  Joel Kuhnel (0.00)

Batting Average:  César Salazar (.318)

Hits:  Jose Altuve (133)

Home Runs:  Yordan Alvarez (20)

RBI:  Yainer Diaz (59)

Stolen Bases:  Jose Altuve (15)

Wins:  Framber Valdez (10)

Saves:  Josh Hader (21)

ERA:  Dylan Coleman (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (10th season)

Houston Astros: Joe Espada (1st season)