Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction, 9/29/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros

Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay (+105) Houston (-132)

Minute Maid Park is the site where Luis Garcia and the Houston Astros (91-65, 1st in AL West) will play the Tampa Bay Rays (97-59, 1st in AL East) on Wednesday. The Astros open this contest at -132 while the Rays are priced at +105. The O/U is set at 9. The starting pitchers will be Drew Rasmussen and Luis Garcia.

The Rays have tallied 279 doubles as a squad and have smacked 211 balls out of the stadium. Tampa Bay has a slugging rate of .426 and have been called out on strikes 1,485 times, while drawing a walk on 563 occasions. As a team, the Tampa Bay Rays are putting up 5.3 runs per outing, which ranks them 2nd in MLB. They have 782 runs batted in in addition to 1,281 base knocks so far this year, while their average at the plate is at .242. They have earned 829 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .320.

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Rays pitchers have allowed 180 long balls and 638 runs in total (7th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 424 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 3.81 as a squad on the season. They have a K/BB ratio of 3.37 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.18. The Rays have compiled a team earned run average of 3.72 this season (5th in baseball), and they have struck out 1,429 batters.

The Rays have dispatched 507 relief pitchers to the hill for the season. The relievers have inherited 158 base runners so far this year and 27.2% of those runners crossed home plate. They have 41 saves on the campaign and have not converted 20 of 61 save opportunities. The Rays bullpen have a save percentage of 67.2% and has entered the game in 152 save situations. The bullpen have earned 88 holds so far this year (10th in MLB). Rays pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 122 times in addition to having 173 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a tally of 4,212 putouts this season, as well as 1,311 assists and 79 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .986 which is 9th in the majors, and they have twisted 1,001 double plays. The Rays have transformed 70.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 12,636 innings on the field, which ranks them 7th in pro baseball.

Rasmussen has thrown 86 innings and has 92 punch outs so far in his pro baseball career. Rasmussen (4-1 record in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 3.42 while facing 362 batters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.54 (34 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.239. He has given up 73 base hits (7.6 hits per nine innings) and has 34 free passes.

Houston has accumulated 209 HRs over the course of the season as well as 804 RBIs. They have tallied 292 two-baggers, while getting a free base 554 times as well as putting up 833 runs. The Houston Astros have a team on-base percentage of .340 and a batting average of .268 over the course of the season. The Astros hold a team SLG% of .442 and they are scoring 5.34 runs per game (1st in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 1,180 occasions (30th in the league) and have 1,442 hits.

The Houston pitching staff have surrendered 628 runs so far this season while holding a team ERA of 3.74 (578 earned runs relinquished). They have allowed 176 HR's and they concede 4.06 runs per 9 innings (4th in the league). The Astros have a team WHIP of 1.231 in addition to having a FIP of 4.08 as a squad this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.65 (1,405 strikeouts against 531 bases on balls). They are sitting at 5th in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 1,181.

Houston relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 36.7% out of their 199 inherited runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 161 times in high leverage situations and also on 135 occasions with base runners. Sitting with 125 save situations, the Astros have 65 holds and 26 blown saves. They are ranked 23rd in MLB with a save percentage of 55.9%, and they have dispatched 494 bullpen pitchers to the mound for the year. Houston has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 59 save chances and they have walked away with 33 saves.

The Houston Astros have turned 119 double plays and have a fielding rate of .989 (1st in professional baseball). The Astros have recorded 1,372 assists, 63 errors and have amassed 4,173 putouts so far this year. In their 12,519 innings on the field, the Astros are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 71.4% (3rd in pro baseball).

In his career, Garcia has allowed 132 base knocks while he has accumulated 170 K's in 162 innings pitched. He has allowed 58 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.137 and having a FIP of 3.6. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.21 and he has gone up against 659 batters thus far in his career. Garcia (11-8 career record) has earned a 3.21 ERA while surrendering 7.3 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston (-132)

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