Saturday, May 21, 2016

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Cesar Ramos vs. Mike Fiers

The Texas Rangers visit Minute Maid Park on Saturday to play the Houston Astros. The probable starters are Cesar Ramos for the Rangers and Mike Fiers for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Texas at +141 and Houston at -151. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Rangers have a 22-18-1 over/under record and a 21-20-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Astros are 18-24-0 against the run line and have a 22-15-5 over/under record. They cover the spread 43% of the time.

The Rangers head into this matchup with a 22-19 record, including 8-12 on the road. Starting pitcher Cesar Ramos has a 0-2 record with an earned run average of 4.32 and a WHIP of 1.80. He has 11 strikeouts over his 16.2 innings pitched and he has given up 22 hits so far this season. He has allowed 11.9 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.56. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 5.61 and they have given up 146 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .285 against the bullpen while being struck out 100 times and walking 55 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 9.05 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.8 batters per nine. They are 19th in the league in team earned run average at 4.26. The Rangers pitchers have collectively given up 370 base hits and 174 earned runs. They have allowed 56 home runs this season and they allow 1.4 homers per nine innings as a staff. Texas as a pitching staff has walked 145 batters and struck out 278. They walk 3.5 men per 9 innings while striking out 6.8 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.40 and their FIP as a unit is 4.89.

As a team, Texas is batting .257, good for 11th in the league while putting together a .243 average away from home. The Rangers hold a .409 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .316 which is good for 18th in baseball. They rank 12th in baseball with 8.68 hits per game. Adrian Beltre comes into this game hitting .271 and his on-base percentage is at .318. He has 42 hits this season along with 18 runs scored and 27 runs batted in. He's struck out 13 times and has walked 11 times. Elvis Andrus is hitting .290 and he has an on-base percentage of .340. He has totaled 38 hits so far while scoring 15 runs and he's driven in 14. He has walked 10 times and has struck out 16 times. The Rangers have 356 hits, including 69 doubles and 42 home runs. They've stolen 28 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 8 times. Texas has walked 109 times this season and they've struck out 289 times as a unit. They've left 253 men on base and have a team OPS of .724. They score 4.54 runs per contest and have scored a total of 186 runs so far this year.

Houston comes into this matchup with a 10-10 home record and a 17-25 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.63, Mike Fiers has a 3-1 record and a 1.32 WHIP. He has 31 strikeouts over the 44.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 52 hits. He has allowed 10.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.51. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.88 and they have given up 130 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .236 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 145 times and walking 30 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 9.62 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.6 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.56. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 405 base knocks and 192 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 48 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a staff has walked 110 hitters and struck out 320. They give up a walk 2.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.6 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.36 while their FIP as a staff is 3.96.

As a team, they are batting .234, good for 27th in the league while putting together a .239 average at home. The Astros hold a .413 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .319 which is good for 17th in baseball. They rank 23rd in baseball with 7.95 hits per contest. Jose Altuve comes into this matchup batting .345 and he has an OBP of .433. He has 57 hits this year along with 38 runs scored and 26 RBI. He's struck out 21 times and has walked on 24 occasions. Carlos Correa is hitting .266 and he has an OBP of .366. He has collected 42 hits so far while he's scored 22 runs and drove in 20. He has earned a walk 23 times and has punched out 44 times. The Astros as a unit have 334 base hits, including 86 doubles and 54 homers. They have 38 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 13 times. Houston as a team has walked 169 times this year and they have struck out 414 times. They've had 292 men left on base and have an OPS of .731. They score 4.24 runs per game and have totaled 178 runs so far this season.

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 22-18-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 21-20-0 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 22-15-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 18-24-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Texas Rangers

05/19/16 RF Shin-Soo Choo Calf 15-day DL (4/9); expected to be activated & start Friday vs. Houston Astros
05/08/16 P AJ Griffin Shoulder 15-day DL (5/8)
04/21/16 P Keone Kela Elbow 15-day DL (4/20)
04/11/16 C Robinson Chirinos Forearm 60-day DL (4/9)
04/10/16 P Tanner Schepper Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 RF Josh Hamilton Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Luke Jackson Back 15-day DL (3/25)
04/03/16 P Yu Darvish Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Houston Astros

05/17/16 CF Carlos Gomez Ribs 15-day DL (5/16)

Josh's Pick: Take the Astros

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