Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers 8/7/24 – In a fascinating game in the middle of the week, Houston Astros (58-55) make their way to Texas Rangers (54-60) at Globe Life Field for an American League battle that will ensue. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, August 7, 2024 and it will start at 2:35 PM ET; this game is thus considered crucial for both squads in a very tight season. If you can’t get to your TV screen, watch all of the action on MLBN or, if not, maybe tune into MLB.TV online channels on the website. Through our MLB best free predictions here we take a look at teams’ current forms and stats so as to see where the value lies in this match-up.
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers 8/7/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 2:35 PM ET |
| Where: | Globe Life Field |
| TV: | MLBN |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Houston Astros (58-55) vs. Texas Rangers (54-60)
The Astros have a team batting average of .258 and a superior slugging percentage of .412, fetching them the upper hand over the Rangers. They hold an average record but have managed to score significantly with 509 runs from 988 hits. Nonetheless, their on-base average is at .318; it is better that they had higher one in order to increase their opportunities for scoring. Their pitchers have compiled a rather respectable ERA of 3.98 and WHIP of 1.29 which reveals a steady but not great performance on the mound.
Another way round the Texas Rangers, as they stand below .500, demonstrate resilience in their home performances. The Rangers have hit for only an average of .238 and made marginal impact through their bats compared to the Astros who bat for a .382 percent slugging average. They’ve scored 479 runs from 905 hits only. Similarly, their pitching is weaker, having an ERA of 4.21 and WHIP at 1.27; this can be worrisome against a lineup like that of Houston which has become quite strong recently.
Yusei Kikuchi (4-9, 4.67 ERA) vs. Jose Urena (3-6, 3.70 ERA)
Yusei Kikuchi, who starts for Houston, has had a season that has proved to be difficult with a 4.67 ERA and a win-loss record of 4-9. But in the process, Kikuchi was able to strike out 141 batters in only 121.1 innings thus proving he can still be effective against hitters. His 1.33 WHIP shows that he has had some issues regarding allowing base runners which is an area where Texas could take advantage.
Conversely, Rangers pitcher Jose Urena has posted a more favorable ERA at 3.70 with a record of 3-6. For his part, Urena has managed fewer strikeouts—only 55—in 80.1 innings while walking and homers as Kikuchi did less often. A lower WHIP of 1.27 suggests better handling of opposing batters that may prove decisive here.
When these two pitchers clash, the game could tilt towards a low-scoring affair, especially considering both teams’ recent under trends. Kikuchi needs to manage his pitch count and limit walks to maintain competitiveness, while Urena will aim to leverage his relative consistency to outlast his counterpart.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Houston Astros -1.5 +129, Total Odds: 9
The odds reflect a slight edge to the Astros despite their recent struggles, especially with their robust performance history in Texas. However, the tight spread and moneyline indicate that a closely contested game is expected.
Houston Astros Betting Trends
Houston’s recent form shows a strong trend towards the UNDER in total points, with such outcomes in their last 5 games. This trend is mirrored in their road games and when facing American League opponents, indicating their games tend to be lower-scoring, influenced by their pitching.
Texas Rangers Betting Trends
Conversely, Texas has seen the total go OVER in 9 of their last 11 games, suggesting a tendency towards higher-scoring matchups, albeit inconsistently. However, they’ve struggled against Houston, particularly at home, which could influence the betting strategy.
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers 8/7/24 Betting Picks
The judgment based on the historical record and recent trends slightly favors Astros to cover their spread. Their superior batting and a solid history in Texas give them an upper hand, though the expected close game would make it a risky but potentially profitable bet for Rangers as underdogs.
Considering both pitchers’ game management skills and the current tendencies, it seems like UNDER is going to be more beneficial here in terms of points. Kikuchi’s strikeout total may be something to think about when considering proposition bets because he has a high season total already.
This forecast involves a close contest with Houston’s marginally better pitching and hitting giving them an edge over Texas, meaning that this could be a nice day for one following top sports handicappers analysis.