Monday, August 17, 2015

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Erasmo Ramirez (9-4) vs. Scott Kazmir (6-7)

The Houston Astros host the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park on Monday. The probable starters are Erasmo Ramirez for the Rays and Scott Kazmir for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay at +149 and Houston at -159. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Rays have a 51-56 over/under record and a 63-53 run line mark, meaning they cover 54% of the time. The Astros are 64-53 against the run line and have a 52-60 over/under record. They cover the spread 55% of the time.

The Rays come into this game with a 58-58 record, and they are 28-29 away from home. Starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez holds a 9-4 record with an earned run average of 3.59 and a WHIP of 1.08. In his starts, the Rays are 12-6 over his 110.1 innings pitched this season while giving up 89 hits during those innings. The Rays are also 6-10 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.82 and they have given up 334 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .231 against the bullpen while being struck out 358 times and walking 143 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 7.96 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.32 batters per nine. They are 9th in the league in team earned run average at 3.66.

Tampa Bay ranks 25th in the league in team batting average at .245 while hitting .248 on the road. The Rays hold a .392 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .309 which is good for 19th in baseball. They rank 27th in baseball with 8.17 hits per game and Evan Longoria leads the team with 115.

With a 63-54 overall record, Houston will come into this game 39-19 at home. With an earned run average of 2.12, Scott Kazmir will come into this game holding a 6-7 record and a 1.08 WHIP. In his starts, the Astros are 10-12 and he has allowed 103 hits over 135.2 innings pitched this season. The Astros are also 9-12 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 3.8 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.76 and they have given up 247 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .200 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 326 times and walking 99 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 8.06 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.62 batters per nine. They are 5th in the league in team earned run average at 3.46.

They rank 27th in the league in team batting average with a .242 average while hitting .249 at home. The Astros hold a .421 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .309 which is good for 20th in baseball. They rank 29th in baseball with 8.08 hits per game and Jose Altuve leads the team with 132.

Tampa Bay has a team fielding percentage of .984 after having committed 65 errors with 1,016 assists and 3,106 put outs for the season. For the home team, they hold a .986 team fielding percentage while committing 60 errors, accumulating 1233 assists and compiling 3,127 put outs.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 51-56 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 63-53 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 52-60 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 64-53 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Tampa Bay Rays

08/15/15 P Drew Smyly Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/6); expected to be activated & start Sunday vs. Texas Rangers
08/01/15 RF Steven Souza Hand Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/2)
05/09/15 P Alex Cobb Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season
04/29/15 P Kirby Yates Pectoral Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/29)
04/18/15 P Jeff Beliveau Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/22), out for season

Houston Astros

07/02/15 RF George Springer Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
05/19/15 P Samuel Deduno Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/14), out for season
04/17/15 P Brad Peacock Hip Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/14); out for season

Guy's Pick: Take the Astros

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