Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 4/8/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers

Date: Monday, April 8, 2024

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-132) Texas (+112)

Globe Life Field is the location where the Texas Rangers (6-2) will attempt to beat the Houston Astros (2-7) on Monday. The moneyline on this game has the Astros at -132 while the Rangers are coming in at +112. The over/under is set at 9.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Framber Valdez and Andrew Heaney.

The Astros have recorded 14 two-baggers as a team and have smacked 13 baseballs out of the stadium. Houston has a slugging % of .440 and have struck out 58 times, while taking a walk on 28 occasions. As a team, the Houston Astros are earning 3.8 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 21st in baseball. They have compiled 31 runs batted in in addition to 82 hits this season, while their team batting average is .267. They have earned 34 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .332.

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The Astros have a team ERA of 4.22 for the year (18th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 73 hitters. Astros pitchers have yielded 8 home runs and 40 runs in total (17th in the league). They have walked 41 batters and their FIP comes in at 4.34 as a team for the year. Houston has conceded 78 base hits (8.9 per 9 innings) as well as 37 earned runs. They have a K/BB ratio of 1.78 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.51.

The Astros bullpen have earned a save percentage of 0.0% and has come into the game in 6 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 11 base runners on the season with 27.3% of those players ended up scoring. Astros relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 7 times as well as having 7 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have dispatched 30 relievers to the mound on the campaign. The relief pitchers have accumulated 2 holds for the year (28th in MLB). They have 0 saves for the year and have missed out on 4 out of their 4 save opportunities.

The Houston Astros have accumulated 237 putouts this year, in addition to 87 assists and 3 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .991 which puts them in 8th in MLB, and they have turned 10 double plays. The Astros have turned 67.9% of balls hit into play into outs in their 711 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 23rd in professional baseball.

Valdez has pitched in 724 innings and has accounted for 707 K's during his pro baseball career. Valdez (53-34 win-loss record in his career) has earned a FIP of 3.61 and he has faced 3,028 batters in the majors. His ERA is 3.38 (272 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.220. He has surrendered 612 hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has 272 free passes.

Texas has compiled 10 HRs on the campaign as well as 50 runs batted in. They have recorded 18 two-baggers, while walking 35 times and racking up 52 runs. The Texas Rangers have tallied an OBP of .378 and a team batting average of .301 for the year. The Rangers have a team slugging % of .486 and they tally 6.50 runs per game (3rd in MLB). They have struck out on 63 occasions (25th in the league) and are sitting with 88 base knocks.

The Rangers are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.139 and have a FIP of 3.96 as a team for the year. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.00 (64 strikeouts against 28 free passes). They rank 7th in the league as a staff in total hits allowed with 54. They have surrendered 6 HR's and they relinquish 3.38 runs per 9 innings (5th in baseball). The Texas pitching staff have given up 27 runs so far this year while holding a team ERA of 2.63 (21 earned runs conceded).

With 8 save situations, the Rangers have amassed 7 holds and also 0 blown saves. Texas has had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 1 save opportunity and they have recorded 1 save. Their relievers have come in 11 times in high leverage situations in addition to 7 occasions with runners on base. Texas relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 60.0% out of 10 inherited base runners. They sit at 5th in the league with a save percentage of 100.0%, and they have sent 26 relief pitchers to the mound this year.

In 648 innings on the field, the Rangers have a defensive efficiency of 73.6% (3rd in the majors). The Texas Rangers have gotten 9 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (13th in baseball). The Rangers have 64 assists, 4 errors and have amassed 216 putouts for the year.

So far in his career, Heaney has allowed 829 hits while earning 918 punch outs in 859 innings pitched. He has given up a total of 427 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.265 and having a FIP of 4.4. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.56 and he has faced 3,656 opposing hitters in his pro baseball career. Heaney (46-49 record in his career) holds a 4.47 earned run average and has allowed 8.7 hits per nine innings.

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

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

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