Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros Pick 8/2/24 – The next matches in the baseball American League MLB series at the Minute Maid Park will oppose the Tampa Bay Rays, a team with a win/loss record of 55-53 against the Houston Astros, a team with 56-52. Since both teams are close to the . 500 mark, this game could be one of the deciding factors for the playoffs for both teams. Scheduled for Friday, August 2, 2024 at 8:10 PM ET and televised on MLBN, this game is creating a buzz not only among fans but in the current handicapper predictions today.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros Pick 8/2/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Friday, August 2, 2024, at 8:10 PM ET |
| Where: | Minute Maid Park |
| TV: | MLBN |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Tampa Bay Rays (55-53) vs. Houston Astros (56-52)
The Tampa Bay Rays have proved to be a strong side but they have lost essential matches that have denied them the chance to ascend up the standings. Their batting has not been very impressive with an average of .234 while their on base to percentage .312 shows they are either getting on base fairly well. Their pitchers keep a reasonable ERA of 4.08, another impressive statistic is 934 strikeouts illustrating their dominance on the pitching mound.
On the other hand, the opposite team, the Houston Astros, have a powerful batting which can be seen from the team’s batting average of .261 accompanied by a slugging average of .417 which is a conclusive confirmation of a team that has the ability to hit for power or to score big. Their pitching, with an ERA slightly better than the Rays at 4.02, have been imposing, most especially in the space that is considered their home ground, the Minute Maid Park, where the Astros’ have recorded a 13-5 record in the recent games played.
Shane Baz (0-1, 3.66 ERA) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (4-9, 4.75 ERA)
Shane Baz, the starting pitcher for the Rays, brings a modest record into this game, with an ERA of 3.66 across 19.2 innings pitched this season. Despite his limited appearances, Baz has demonstrated potential, racking up 19 strikeouts. His challenges, however, include a high WHIP of 1.42, suggesting he often allows runners on base, which could be detrimental against a lineup like Houston’s.
Yusei Kikuchi of the Astros counters with more experience this season, having thrown over 115 innings. However, his ERA of 4.75 and WHIP of 1.34 indicate struggles with consistency. With 130 strikeouts, Kikuchi shows he can handle the pressure, but the 17 home runs allowed highlight a vulnerability that the Rays could exploit.
When these two pitchers clash, the game’s outcome may hinge on Baz’s ability to manage the Astros’ hitters and Kikuchi’s effectiveness against a Rays team that can be unpredictable. Their performances will be pivotal in a matchup where both teams need a win to keep playoff hopes alive.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Houston Astros -134, Total Odds: 8
The current betting odds favor the Astros slightly, reflecting their home-field advantage and stronger offensive stats. The total set at 8 runs suggests expectations for a relatively balanced game in terms of scoring.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends
The Rays have had a mixed bag of results recently, with a notable trend of games going over the total on the road. However, their struggle against teams from the American League West, particularly a 1-4 record in their last five encounters, could be a cause for concern for bettors leaning towards Tampa Bay.
Houston Astros Betting Trends
Houston has demonstrated a strong ability to win at home and has been particularly effective against teams from the American League East, winning 7 of their last 8 matchups. The trend of games going under when playing at home against Tampa Bay could influence betting decisions, especially for total runs.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros 8/2/24 Betting Picks
Based on the statistics and form of the two teams, the chances look more in the favor of the Astros looking at their free scoring potential and superior home record. Incidentally, given the volatility of the sides the game may turn out to be closer to the actual odds.
Taking the Rays with the spread could be the improved choice because from the recent games one can notice the game would be close and Baz might just deliver his best performance. Regarding prop bets, based on the pitching weaknesses of both teams, total runs might be the direction to go in this case.
This free MLB prediction sees the game to be fairly close with both teams getting on the scorers’ sheet and hence, the most interesting prop bets are ‘over’ the total runs and the home team, Houston Astros to clinch it.