Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Picks and Predictions August 13th 2024

At 6:50 PM ET, the Astros and Rays will square off in an AL matchup. This one is taking place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, and the Astros are the current favorites on the money line (-136). The Rays’ money line odds are sitting at +115, and the over/under line is at 8 runs.

Houston comes into the game with a record of 63-55 and is currently on a six-game winning streak. They are first in the AL West, while the Rays are 4th in the AL East with a record of 59-59. Shane Baz will be starting for the Rays, and the Astros are sending Yusei Kikuchi to the mound.

Houston vs. Tampa Bay Key Information

• Teams: Astros at Rays
• Where: Tropicana Field St. Petersburg
• Date: Tuesday, August 13th
• Betting Odds HOU -136 | TB +115 O/U 8

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi gets the start for the Astros today as he faces the Rays on the road. Kikuchi has made 24 starts this season and has a record of 5-9 with an ERA of 4.62. So far, he has turned in eight quality starts and is averaging 10.59 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Kikuchi picked up the win, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight outings.

Heading into today’s game, the Astros are averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 12th in the MLB. They have been even better at home, averaging 4.8 runs per contest. Houston has been one of the league’s top power-hitting teams this season, as they are 10th in homers and have the league’s 2nd best team batting average at .262.

Yordan Alvarez has been a key power threat for the Astros this season, as his 25 homers are the best mark on the team and 9th best in the league. Alvarez also comes into the game on a six-game hitting streak, during which he has gone 9/18 with four homers. Kyle Tucker has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 10/22 with three homers in his last five games. Alex Bregman has also been on a tear, going 10/22 with three homers in his last five games and is currently on a seven-game hitting streak.

• The Astros are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Astros are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Houston has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
• The Astros have an average of 7.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Astros are 7-3
• Looking back across the Astros last five games as the favorite, they are 5-0
• Houston has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Astros have averaged 5.2 runs per game on offense

Through six starts, Shane Baz has yet to pick up a win, as he is 0-1 with an ERA of 4.29. Baz has made two quality starts this year and is coming off an outing in which he gave up two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. In that outing vs. the Cardinals, he gave up two homers. Baz has made six appearances and has a WHIP of 1.47. So far, he has issued 3.68 walks per nine innings compared to 7.98 strikeouts. Baz’s ERA at home is 4.62 compared to 4.05 on the road.

For the season, the Rays are averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is the worst mark in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and have a team batting average of just .233. Tampa Bay’s team slugging percentage of .373 is also one of the worst marks in the league. The Rays do have a good team on-base percentage of .310.

So far, Christopher Morel has been a big power threat for the Rays, as he leads the team with 20 home runs, but he is batting just .192. Yandy Diaz has been a little better at the plate, hitting .270 with 10 homers. Brandon Lowe is also near the top of the team’s home run list, but he is coming off a stretch in which he went just 3/21.

• The Rays are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rays are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 2-8 in their last ten games.
• The Rays have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Rays are 5-5
• Looking back across the Rays last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Tampa Bay has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rays have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

Astros Keep Rolling as They Face Off Against Struggling Rays

The Houston Astros are on fire, tearing through a tough road trip and solidifying their spot at the top of the American League West. After sweeping the Boston Red Sox and taking two from the Texas Rangers, the Astros now have their sights set on the Tampa Bay Rays. With the Rays struggling to find their groove, this series could be a game-changer for both teams as the season winds down.

Astros’ Hot Streak Shows Their Grit

The Houston Astros have been unstoppable, winning six out of their first seven games on this nine-game road trip. Their latest victory was on Monday, where they dominated the Rays in the series opener. Framber Valdez was lights out, striking out nine and giving up just one run over 5 2/3 innings. Meanwhile, Yainer Diaz brought the firepower with a three-run homer, sealing a 6-1 win.

Houston’s ability to stay sharp on the road has been key to their climb to the top of the AL West. They were 10 games behind the Seattle Mariners in mid-June, but now they’ve edged ahead. First-year manager Joe Espada credits the team’s resilience and tight-knit chemistry:

Rays Struggling to Find Their Footing

While the Astros are riding high, the Tampa Bay Rays are searching for answers. Despite picking up a win against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, the Rays couldn’t keep the momentum going against Houston. Monday’s loss highlighted their ongoing issues, especially at the plate. The Rays managed just four hits, and with five starters hitting below .200, it’s clear they’re in a slump.

Rays manager Kevin Cash knows his team is in a tough spot:

The loss dropped the Rays to a .500 record through 118 games, leaving them in fourth place in the AL East. The clock is ticking for them to turn things around.

Key Pitching Matchup: Kikuchi vs. Baz

Tuesday’s game is going to be all about the pitching as the Rays try to slow down the red-hot Astros. Houston is sending lefty Yusei Kikuchi to the mound. Since joining the Astros from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, Kikuchi has been a solid addition. He’s got a 5-9 record with a 4.62 ERA this season, but he’s done well against the Rays in the past, with a 5-2 record and a 3.67 ERA in 11 career appearances.

Kikuchi is coming off a strong outing against the Rangers, where he gave up just two runs over 5 1/3 innings. He’ll be looking to keep that momentum going against a Rays lineup that’s been struggling to find its rhythm.

On the flip side, the Rays are putting their hopes in right-hander Shane Baz. It’s been a rough season for Baz, who’s 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA. He’s coming off a no-decision against the Cardinals, where he allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings. If the Rays are going to stand a chance, Baz will need to step up and shut down the Astros’ powerful offense.

Unlock Your Betting Potential! Join Today.

Impact on the AL Standings

This series has big implications for both teams as they fight for playoff positioning. The Astros are focused on maintaining their lead in the AL West and gunning for another division title. Their recent hot streak has put them in a strong position, but with the Mariners nipping at their heels, every game matters.

For the Rays, who’ve dropped to a .500 record and are now in fourth place in the AL East, the stakes are just as high. A series win against the Astros could give them the boost they need to get back in the playoff race. But if their struggles continue, their postseason hopes could be in serious jeopardy.

As the Astros and Rays continue this series, the contrast between the two teams couldn’t be clearer. The Astros are on a roll, showing off their resilience and knack for winning in tough spots. Meanwhile, the Rays are desperate for a spark to snap out of their slump and keep their playoff dreams alive. With big performances and crucial pitching matchups on deck, this series could be a turning point for both teams as they head toward the postseason.

The Lean

Today’s Astros vs. Rays matchup should be a low-scoring game, as this is projected to be the 3rd lowest-scoring game of today’s league slate. However, with the line sitting at 8 runs, we are still leaning towards taking the over. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we like the Astros to come out on top. Houston is 8th in our projections in hits, and Yusei Kikuchi is 4th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.