The Houston Astros (62-55, 61-56 RL, 47-66-4 O/U) are set to clash with the Tampa Bay Rays (59-58, 58-59 RL, 54-58-5 O/U) in the opening game of a three-game series on Monday evening. The Astros will be sending Framber Valdez to the mound, while the Rays will counter with Taj Bradley. The Rays currently lead the season series 2-1.
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Astros Face Off Against Division Rivals
Framber Valdez will take the mound for Houston. In his last performance, Valdez was impressive, allowing only two runs over 8.2 innings against the Texas Rangers, earning the victory. The seasoned pitcher has given up two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts, boasting a 3.46 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP with an 11-5 record across 125 innings this season. However, he had a rough outing against the Rays earlier this year, surrendering six runs in just 5.1 innings.
The Astros are currently in a tight race with the Seattle Mariners at the top of the division, holding a slim half-game lead. Their form has been inconsistent; after losing a home series to the Rays last week, they bounced back with a series win against Texas and a commanding sweep of the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. Houston’s away record stands just above .500.
In terms of player updates, Kyle Tucker remains sidelined, while Jose Altuve is showing signs of returning to form with three RBIs in his last four games. He is having another solid season, hitting .303 with 50 RBIs and an OPS of .798, although his performance against the Rays this season has been below par, with no RBIs and a .350 OPS.
The Astros average 4.59 runs per game, placing them 12th in the league, while their pitching staff holds a 3.96 ERA, ranking 14th overall.
Rays Struggle in Wildcard Race
Taj Bradley will be on the hill for Tampa Bay on Monday. In his last outing, Bradley struggled, allowing five runs in just 4.2 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, resulting in a loss. Despite recent challenges, his season numbers remain solid with a 3.07 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, along with a 6-6 record over 91 innings. Historically, he has faced difficulties against the Astros, having given up eight runs in 8.1 career innings.
Currently, the Rays are facing a tough stretch, having lost two of their last three series. Following two defeats against the Cardinals last week, they also dropped a series to the Orioles, scoring eight runs while conceding twelve. They sit 5.5 games out of a wildcard position and are maintaining a .500 record at home.
New addition Christopher Morel has only managed two RBIs since joining the team last month. The 25-year-old third baseman has 20 home runs and 53 RBIs this season, with a .668 OPS. Yandy Diaz has also been a key contributor, hitting ten home runs and driving in 51 runs, including an impressive performance with a 1.5 OPS against the Astros last week.
The Rays are averaging 3.95 runs per game this season, ranking them 28th in the league, while their pitching staff has a 4.03 ERA, placing them 16th overall.
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Top Betting Insights for Astros vs. Rays
The Houston Astros are performing well, yet the Tampa Bay Rays find themselves in a critical situation as their playoff hopes dwindle. The Rays recently secured two wins out of three against the Astros earlier this month and are coming off a significant victory against the Orioles. They are in dire need of a series win to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
Additionally, Framber Valdez has not been as effective in away games. Conversely, Taj Bradley has shown remarkable resilience. He earned the pitcher of the month award in July with a stunning 1.45 ERA and has been particularly formidable at home, where he boasts a 2.04 ERA. The Rays have triumphed in four of his last five home starts.
