Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 7/2/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers

Date: Sunday, July 2, 2023

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: Bally Sports Southwest

The Houston Astros (44-37) are on their way to Globe Life Field on Sunday where they will attempt to beat the Texas Rangers (49-32). The pitchers taking the mound are Framber Valdez and Andrew Heaney.

As a team, the Houston Astros are notching 4.7 runs per game, which is 11th in the league. They have accumulated 377 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .319. The Astros have hit 141 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 95 baseballs out of the park. They have amassed 361 RBI's and 681 hits for the season, and their batting average is at .248. Houston has a slugging percentage of .408 and have been called out on strikes 643 times, while being walked on 263 occasions.

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The Astros are sitting with a team earned run average of 3.58 on the campaign (1st in the league), and they have struck out 750 batters. Astros pitchers have relinquished 88 home runs and 321 runs in total (3rd in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 251 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 3.97 as a team on the campaign. Houston has surrendered 654 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) in addition to 288 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.99 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.25.

The Astros have sent 248 relief pitchers to the mound so far this season. The relief pitchers have inherited 69 base runners on the year and 30.4% of those runners earned a run for their team. They have recorded 21 saves so far this season and have blown 12 of 33 chances to save the game. The Astros bullpen have a save rate of 63.6% and has come into the game in 75 save situations. The bullpen have 41 holds on the season (18th in baseball). Astros bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 45 times and also have had 70 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Houston Astros have a tally of 2,175 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 701 assists and 37 errors. Their fielding rate sits at .987 which is 7th in professional baseball, and they have twisted 73 double plays. The Astros have transformed 69.1% of balls hit into play into outs out of 6,525 innings on the field, which has them ranked 15th in the majors.

Valdez has thrown 619 innings and is sitting with 607 K's so far in his MLB career. Valdez (48-29 career win-loss mark) has a FIP of 3.52 while facing 2,588 opposing hitters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.23 (222 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.217. He has conceded 521 hits (7.6 hits per nine innings) with 233 walks.

The Rangers have a SLG% of .459 and they score 5.96 runs per outing (1st in the league). They have hit 176 two-baggers, while walking 284 times as well as scoring 483 runs. Texas has knocked in 111 home runs on the season to go along with 464 runs batted in. They have struck out on 708 instances (16th in baseball) and have notched a total of 781 base knocks. The Texas Rangers have compiled an on-base percentage of .343 as well as a batting average of .274 for the year.

The Rangers have a WHIP of 1.183 with a FIP of 4.02 as a unit on the season. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.30 (662 strikeouts against 230 walks). They sit at 3rd in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 621. They have allowed 83 long balls and they surrender 4.08 runs per 9 innings (6th in MLB). The Texas pitching staff have conceded 326 runs this year while having an ERA of 3.82 (305 earned runs surrendered).

Texas has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 28 save chances and they have walked away with 15 saves. They are ranked 26th in MLB with a save percentage of 53.6%, and they have dispatched 217 relievers to the mound on the campaign. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 65 times in high leverage situations and also on 74 occasions with runners on. Texas bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 30.3% out of their 122 inherited base runners. Sitting with 68 save situations, the Rangers have amassed 39 holds and also 13 blown saves.

In their 6,474 innings played, the Rangers hold a defensive efficiency of 71.3% (3rd in the majors). The Texas Rangers have turned 73 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .988 (6th in pro baseball). The Rangers have recorded 724 assists, 35 errors and have amassed 2,158 putouts for the season.

In his MLB career, Heaney has allowed 750 base hits and he has 841 punch outs in 785 frames. Heaney (41-47 record in his career) is the owner of a 4.54 ERA while giving up 8.6 hits per nine innings. He has given up a total of 396 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.251 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.5. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.63 and he has gone up against 3,330 hitters during his career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston

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