Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/03/2024

Game Time: 7:15 pm ET, Saturday, August 3, 2024

Venue:  Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  FOX

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +130, Astros -155; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +130, Astros -155; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays +130, Astros -155; Over/Under:  8 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  55-53 (4th place, AL East)

Houston Astros:  56-52 (1st place, AL West)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Amedeus Mastrangelo is on a HOT STREAK in the MLB on a 9-2 MLB RUN for +$6,910 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Tampa Bay Rays:  6-4 last 10

Houston Astros:  4-6 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a loss and split their 2-game series against the Miami Marlins 1-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 55-53 record overall and have a road record of 25-24. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Astros on Saturday with the series opener of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 22nd in the MLB with a .687 OPS. Shane Baz is their starting pitcher on Friday while Zack Littell is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 4-7 with a 4.18 ERA this season. His team lost 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 5 Ks on 3 hits through 7 IP against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Astros are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 56-52 record overall and have a home record of 31-24. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Saturday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .737 OPS. Yusei Kikuchi is their starting pitcher on Friday while Ronel Blanco is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 9-5 with a 2.95 ERA this season. His team lost 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 4 earned runs, 1 homer, and 3 BB with 9 strikeouts on 3 hits through 4.1 innings played against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The current betting odds have the Astros listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays haven't looked great in their games for most of the season, but now they have pulled themselves over .500 with their 55-53 record overall. They are 25-24 in their road games too, but lately they have looked a lot better with their 6-4 record in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Astros have looked good in their games this season with their 56-52 record overall which has them leading the AL West. They have looked a lot better in their home games too with their 31-24 home record. The Astros lost their last series at home to the Pirates but they will be looking to bounce back in this one, and they have the better pitching matchup in this game to do so. They are going with Blanco on the mound and he has looked great all season. He did give up 4 earned runs in his last start and his team has lost 2 of their last 3 games with him starting now, but he is still 9-5 with a 2.95 ERA and will be looking to bounce back with a better performance at home since he has been pitching so well all year. The Rays are going with Littell in this one and he is coming off a good start in his last one, giving up no runs in that start, but he is still 4-7 with a 4.18 ERA this season and has been struggling for most of the year. He hasn't been terrible in his starts, but he does give up runs consistently and even his team has been struggling to win games with him on the mound, losing 3 of the last 4 games he started in. Blanco will be looking to bounce back at home and has been the more reliable starter this season. The Astros also have the better offense this season and are playing to keep their lead in the AL West. The best way to place a bet here is on the Astros to win this game. 

Rays Astros Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, August 3, 2024 (7:15 pm ET start time) is Astros 4 Rays 1.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks, best bets, and expert baseball picks today.  And if you enjoyed this Tampa Bay Rays Houston Astros prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily MLB projections and previews.

Tampa Bay Rays: 30-62 (-28.20 units) on the first 5 moneyline in their last 92 games. 37-50 (-23.55 units) on the first 5 runline in their last 87 games. 19-14 to the under in their last 33 games. 

Houston Astros: 24-12 (+10.35 units) on the moneyline in their last 36 games. 31-20 (+12 units) on the runline in their last 51 games. 60-46 to the under in their last 106 games. 

Tampa Bay Rays:  R. Palacios (LF) Ques Fri - Knee. R. Pepiot (SP) Out indefinitely - Knee. R. Lovelady (RP) Out indefinitely - Forearm. J. Waguespack (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. W. Franco (SS) Out indefinitely - Poss. Suspension. D. Rasmussen (RP) Mid Aug - Elbow. S. McClanahan (SP) out for season - Elbow.

Houston Astros:  K. Tucker (RF) Out indefinitely - Shin. K. Graveman (RP) out for season - Shoulder. J. Verlander (SP) Early July - Neck. C. Javier (SP) out of season - Forearm. J. Urquidy (SP) out for season - Forearm. B. Sousa (RP) out for season - Shoulder. O. Ortega (RP) Late July - Elbow. P. Murfee (SP) Mid July - Elbow. L. McCullers Jr. (SP) Early July - Forearm. L. Garcia (SP) Mid July - Elbow.

“Still, I thought he kept us in the ballgame when it wasn't coming easy for him.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s loss against the Marlins in their game on Wednesday.

“Dubón with people on base, you know you're going to get contact. Big swing, huge swing.” - Joe Espada after his team’s win against the Pirates in their game on Wednesday.

Y Díaz (R) 1B

B Lowe (L) 2B

C Morel (R) DH

J Lowe (L) RF

J Caballero (R) 3B

R Palacios (L) LF

J DeLuca (R) CF

T Walls (S) SS

A Jackson (R) C

J Altuve (R) 2B

A Bregman (R) 3B

Y Alvarez (L) LF

Y Diaz (R) C

J Peña (R) SS

J Singleton (L) 1B

J Meyers (R) CF

V Caratini (S) DH

C McCormick (R) RF

Batting Average:  Amed Rosario (.307)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (109)

Home Runs:  Jose Siri (14)

RBI:  Yandy Díaz (49)

Stolen Bases:  José Caballero (28)

Wins:  Garrett Cleavinger (7)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (20)

ERA:  Joel Kuhnel (0.00)

Batting Average:  César Salazar (.318)

Hits:  Jose Altuve (133)

Home Runs:  Yordan Alvarez (20)

RBI:  Yainer Diaz (59)

Stolen Bases:  Jose Altuve (15)

Wins:  Framber Valdez (10)

Saves:  Josh Hader (21)

ERA:  Dylan Coleman (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (10th season)

Houston Astros: Joe Espada (1st season)