Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction, 8/4/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros

Date: Sunday, August 4, 2024

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Minute Maid Park is the site where the Houston Astros (56-52) will attempt to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays (55-53) on Sunday. The expected starting pitchers are Tyler Alexander and Spencer Arrighetti.

The Rays have accrued 173 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 102 baseballs out of the stadium. Tampa Bay is slugging .375 and have been called out on strikes 972 times, while taking a walk on 356 occasions. As a squad, the Tampa Bay Rays are knocking in 4.0 runs per outing, which ranks them 27th in the league. They have amassed 403 RBI's and 842 base knocks so far this year, and their batting average is sitting at .234. They have tallied 432 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .312.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio is 3.11 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.23. Rays pitchers have surrendered 139 long balls and also 480 runs (18th in the league). Tampa Bay has surrendered 894 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) in addition to 438 earned runs. The Rays hold a team earned run average of 4.08 so far this season (18th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 934 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 300 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.18 as a squad for the season.

The Rays relief pitchers have a save percentage of 65.4% and stepped onto the hill in 126 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 119 base runners for the season with 27.7% of them earned a run for their team. Rays relief pitchers have entered the game with runners on 81 times in addition to having 142 appearances in high leverage situations. The Rays have dispatched 367 relievers to the mound so far this season. The relief pitchers have a total of 72 holds for the season (5th in baseball). They have tallied 34 saves this season and have missed out on 18 of their 52 chances to save the game.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a total of 2,902 putouts this year, in addition to 851 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .985 which puts them in 16th in pro baseball, and they have turned 73 double plays. The Rays have transformed 70.2% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 8,706 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 12th in professional baseball.

Alexander has pitched in 403 innings and is sitting with 328 strikeouts so far in his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 4.60 (206 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.288. He has allowed 432 hits (9.6 hits per nine innings) with 87 free passes. Alexander (15-26 record in his career) has a FIP of 4.53 and he has faced 1,713 hitters in the major leagues.

The Houston Astros are sitting with an on-base percentage of .320 in addition to a batting average of .261 for the year. They have been called out on strikes on 764 occasions (28th in baseball) and have earned 966 hits. Houston has 123 HRs over the course of the season as well as 481 RBIs. The Astros have a team SLG% of .417 and they are recording 4.65 runs per contest (11th in the league). They have notched 182 doubles, while taking a walk 289 times and scoring 502 runs.

The Houston pitching staff have conceded 456 runs for the year while holding an ERA of 4.02 (428 earned runs conceded). They have allowed 128 home runs and they allow 4.29 runs per 9 innings (11th in the league). The Astros are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.297 and have a FIP of 4.27 as a pitching staff this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 9.00 (956 strikeouts against 389 free passes). They come in at 10th in MLB as a staff in total hits relinquished with 852.

Houston has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 41 save opportunities and they have walked away with 26 saves. They are currently ranked 17th in baseball holding a save percentage of 63.4%, and they have sent 345 relievers onto the field this year. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 98 times in high leverage situations and on 59 occasions with base runners. Houston relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 28.1% of 89 inherited runners. With 104 save situations, the Astros have earned 62 holds in addition to 15 blown saves.

In their 8,616 innings played, the Astros are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 70.4% (10th in MLB). The Houston Astros have turned 89 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .987 (4th in baseball). The Astros have 899 assists, 48 errors and have a tally of 2,872 putouts for the year.

Arrighetti (4-9 career mark) holds a 5.58 ERA and has allowed 9.3 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.21 and he has gone up against 416 opposing batters so far in his MLB career. He has given up a total of 57 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.543 and having a FIP of 5.5. In his career, Arrighetti has given up 95 base hits and he has 104 punch outs in 92 innings pitched.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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