Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/24/2023

Game Time: 8:10 pm ET, Monday, July 24, 2023

Venue:  Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  Sportsnet SW

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

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

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

Texas Rangers:  58-41 (1st place, AL West)

Houston Astros:  55-44 (2nd place, AL West)

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Texas Rangers:  6-4 last 10

Houston Astros:  6-4 last 10

The Rangers entered their last series on a 6 game winning streak and completed the series sweep 3-0 in their 3-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They enter this game with a 58-41 record overall and have a road record of 25-21. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Astros on Monday with the series finale of their series against the LA Dodgers still to be played on Sunday. They also lost the series opener and the 2nd game of that series on Friday and Saturday. Their offense ranks 2nd in the MLB with a .802 OPS. Martín Pérez is their starting pitcher on Sunday while Jon Gray is making his start in this game on Monday. He is 6-5 with a 3.31 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 0 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 4 Ks on 8 hits through 4.1 IP against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Astros entered their last series off a win but split their 2-game series against the Colorado Rockies 1-1. They enter this game with a 55-44 record overall and have a home record of 25-22. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Rangers on Monday with the 4th game of their series against the Oakland Athletics still to be played on Sunday. They also won the 1st game and the 2nd game of that series on Thursday and Friday but lost the 3rd game on Saturday. Their offense ranks 15th in the MLB with a .728 OPS. Hunter Brown is their starting pitcher on Sunday while Brandon Bielak is making his start in this game on Monday. He is 5-5 with a 3.46 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 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 3 BB with 4 strikeouts on 1 hit through 5.2 innings played against the Colorado Rockies.

The current betting odds have the Rangers listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rangers have one of the best offenses in the MLB this season and they also have the lead of the AL West. They will be looking to keep their lead over the Astros and will use this series as a way to try and stretch the gap. The Rangers have Gray starting in this game and he has been a really reliable starter for them this season, not giving up many runs in his starts. He also has been pitching well lately and will continue to pitch well against this Astros offense that hasn't been great this season. The Astros haven't been playing well lately either and the Rangers will be able to take advantage of that with their hot offense. The Astros are going with Bielak in this game and he hasn't been bad this season but he is going to struggle here with the way the Rangers have been crushing the ball lately. The Rangers have a solid starter on the mound in this game and their offense will be able to put up runs and take advantage of an Astros team that hasn't been at their best lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rangers to win this game. 

Rangers Astros Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Monday, July 24, 2023 (8:10 pm ET start time) is Rangers 4 Astros 2.

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Texas Rangers: 24-12 (+11.5 units) on the moneyline when the money line is +125 to -125. 33-19 (+12.5 units) on the moneyline when the total is 7 to 8.5. JON GRAY is 6-3 UNDER when the money line is -100 to -150 and 18-12 UNDER against division opponents.

Houston Astros: 15-21 (-11 units) on the moneyline when the money line is -100 to -150. 25-22 (-8 units) on the moneyline in home games. BRANDON BIELAK is 9-2 UNDER in all games and 6-1 UNDER when the total is 8 to 8.5.

Texas Rangers:  A. Garcia (RF) Out Sun - Hand. C. Seager (SS) Out indefinitely - Thumb. J. Gray (SP) Prob Tues - Shin. J. Sborz (RP) Out indefinitely - Bicep. J. deGrom (SP) out for season - Elbow. J. Odorizzi (SP) out for season - Shoulder. B. Martin (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder.

Houston Astros:  J. Altuve (2B) Early Aug - Oblique. Y. Alvarez (LF) Prob Mon - Oblique. 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.

“You know what, we’ve been on the other end more times than this. So that’s how you have to look at it. You’re going to have them occasionally. It’s a clunker. ... You move on, and that’s what we’ll do.” - Bruce Bochy after his team’s loss against the LA Dodgers in their game on Saturday.

“That's a real big step.” - Dusty Baker on Mauricio Dubon after his team’s loss against the A’s in their game on Saturday.

Marcus Semien (R) 2B

Travis Jankowski (L) RF

Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B

Josh Jung (R) 3B

Jonah Heim (S) C

Ezequiel Duran (R) SS

Brad Miller (L) DH

Leody Taveras (S) CF

Josh H. Smith (L) LF

Mauricio Dubon (R) 2B

Corey Julks (R) LF

Kyle Tucker (L) RF

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Jose Abreu (R) DH

Bligh Madris (L) 1B

Chas McCormick (R) CF

Yainer Diaz (R) C

Jeremy Pena (R) SS

Batting Average:  Corey Seager (.350)

Hits:  Marcus Semien (112)

Home Runs:  Adolis Garcia (24)

RBI:  Adolis Garcia (80)

Stolen Bases:  Travis Jankowski (14)

Wins:  Nathan Eovaldi (11)

Saves:  Will Smith (17)

ERA:  Aroldis Chapman (0.00)

Batting Average:  Kyle Tucker (.302)

Hits:  Kyle Tucker (107)

Home Runs:  Yordan Alvarez (17)

RBI:  Kyle Tucker (68)

Stolen Bases:  Kyle Tucker (17)

Wins:  Framber Valdez (8)

Saves:  Ryan Pressly (23)

ERA:  Hector Neris (1.51)

Managers:

Texas Rangers: Bruce Bochy (1st season)

Houston Astros: Dusty Baker (4th season)