Saturday, August 6, 2016

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Lucas Harrell vs. Doug Fister

The Texas Rangers visit Minute Maid Park on Saturday to play the Houston Astros. The probable starters are Lucas Harrell for the Rangers and Doug Fister for the Astros. The Rangers have a 55-49-5 over/under record and a 60-49-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 55% of the time. The Astros are 47-61-0 against the run line and have a 46-56-6 over/under record. They cover the spread 44% of the time.

The Rangers head into this matchup with a 63-46 record, including 29-29 on the road. Starting pitcher Lucas Harrell has a 3-2 record with an earned run average of 3.57 and a WHIP of 1.25. He has 23 strikeouts over his 35.1 innings pitched and he has given up 29 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.46. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.75 and they have given up 366 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .271 against the bullpen while being struck out 265 times and walking 121 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 9.04 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.67 batters per nine. They are 21st in the league in team earned run average at 4.35. The Rangers pitchers have collectively given up 973 base hits and 468 earned runs. They have allowed 144 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Texas as a pitching staff has walked 356 batters and struck out 718. They walk 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 6.7 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.37 and their FIP as a unit is 4.80.

As a team, Texas is batting .263, good for 6th in the league while putting together a .249 average away from home. The Rangers hold a .432 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .320 which is good for 17th in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.94 hits per game. Nomar Mazara comes into this game hitting .283 and his on-base percentage is at .335. He has 104 hits this season along with 43 runs scored and 43 runs batted in. He's struck out 68 times and has walked 28 times. Ian Desmond is hitting .297 and he has an on-base percentage of .349. He has totaled 126 hits so far while scoring 75 runs and he's driven in 65. He has walked 32 times and has struck out 117 times. The Rangers have 975 hits, including 169 doubles and 141 home runs. They've stolen 60 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 26 times. Texas has walked 279 times this season and they've struck out 816 times as a unit. They've left 673 men on base and have a team OPS of .752. They score 4.71 runs per contest and have scored a total of 513 runs so far this year.

Houston comes into this matchup with a 33-24 home record and a 56-52 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.56, Doug Fister has a 10-7 record and a 1.26 WHIP. He has 85 strikeouts over the 129 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 118 hits. He has allowed 8.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.44. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.08 and they have given up 302 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .223 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 397 times and walking 84 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 8.79 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.6 batters per nine. They are 8th in the league in team earned run average at 3.82. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 962 base knocks and 417 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 112 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a staff has walked 295 hitters and struck out 942. They give up a walk 2.7 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.6 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.28 while their FIP as a staff is 3.67.

As a team, they are batting .241, good for 27th in the league while putting together a .235 average at home. The Astros hold a .412 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .318 which is good for 20th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 8.25 hits per contest. Carlos Correa comes into this matchup batting .266 and he has an OBP of .361. He has 105 hits this year along with 52 runs scored and 68 RBI. He's struck out 100 times and has walked on 55 occasions. Jose Altuve is hitting .355 and he has an OBP of .421. He has collected 151 hits so far while he's scored 79 runs and drove in 64. He has earned a walk 46 times and has punched out 47 times. The Astros as a unit have 891 base hits, including 190 doubles and 134 homers. They have 79 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 30 times. Houston as a team has walked 388 times this year and they have struck out 997 times. They've had 741 men left on base and have an OPS of .730. They score 4.38 runs per game and have totaled 473 runs so far this season.

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 55-49-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 60-49-0 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 46-56-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 47-61-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Texas Rangers

07/20/16 DH Prince Fielder Neck 15-day DL (7/19), out for season
07/07/16 C Bryan Holaday Thumb 60-day DL (7/5)
06/26/16 P Colby Lewis Back 60-day DL (6/22)
06/22/16 P Derek Holland Shoulder 60-day DL (6/21)
05/28/16 P Tanner Scheppers Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
05/24/16 CF Drew Stubbs Toe 60-day DL (5/23)
04/04/16 RF Josh Hamilton Knee 60-day DL (3/25)

Houston Astros

08/04/16 P Doug Fister Personal paternity list
08/03/16 P Lance McCullers Elbow 15-day DL (8/2)
08/02/16 P Luke Gregerso Oblique 15-day DL (7/28)
07/29/16 3B Luis Valbuena Hamstring 15-day DL (7/27)

Guy's Pick: Take the Rangers

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