The Tampa Bay Rays are on a roll right now. After sweeping the New York Yankees in a three-game homestand, the Astros defeated the Washington Nationals in a two-game interleague matchup also at Tropicana Field. Will the Rays keep it going against another World Series contender in the form of the Houston Astros?
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Game by Game Betting Preview for the Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays Regular Season Series Running from June 28 – July 1 2018
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
When:
Game 1 Thursday, June 28, 7:10PM EST
Game 2 Friday, June 29, 7:10PM EST
Game 3 Saturday, June 30, 4:10PM EST
Game 4 Sunday, July 1, 1:10PM EST
Line: Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: SUN, ATSW
Game 1: Thursday, June 28, 7:10PM EST
Starters: Lance McCullers Jr. (8-3, 3.82 ERA) vs. Ryne Stanek (1-1, 1.99 ERA)
Pitching:
McCullers continue to reap Houston success on the mound. In his last outing, the 24-year-old Tampa native allowed three earned runs on four hits with nine strikeouts in a 4-2 win over Kansas City at home on Jun. 23. While he factored into a no-decision, he managed to extend his unbeaten streak to five starts. The Rays, meanwhile, will send another reliever to start for them in the form of Stanek, who has not given up a run in his last 10 appearances, a stretch that includes five starts. Opposing batters have gone just 4-for-42 against him during that span.
Hitting:
- The current Rays’ group of hitters have a collective 0.83 batting average (2-for-24) against McCullers.
- The current Astros lineup is only 0-for-8 against Stanek.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 6-2
Game 2 Friday, June 29, 7:10PM EST
Starters: Gerrit Cole (9-1, 2.56 ERA) vs. Wilmer Font (1-1, 4.71 ERA)
Pitching:
Cole remains hot this season after allowing just an earned run on two hits while striking out eight in an 11-3 win over the Royals at home on Jun. 24. The Astros are now 9-1 in his last 10 starts. Rays right-hander Wilmer Font does not have the gaudy numbers of Cole, but he’s coming off a solid outing himself. He allowed zero runs on three hits in 5.2 innings against the Yankees and their big bats during a 4-0 win at home. He is 1-1 with a 1.63 ERA in four career starts with the Rays.
Hitting:
- Carlos Gomez is 6-for-`14 with a triple vs. Cole.
- George Springer is 3-for-3 vs. Font.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 5-3.
Game 3 Saturday, June 30, 4:10PM EST
Starters: Justin Verlander (9-3, 1.82 ERA) vs. Matt Andriese (1-3, 4.02 ERA)
Pitching:
Verlander didn’t quite have it in his last start, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits with six punchouts in 6.2 innings of a 5-3 home loss to Toronto on Jun .25. He is 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA in eight career starts at Tropicana Field, though. As for Andriese, the 28-year-old righty allowed three earned runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of a 7-6 home loss to the Yankees on Jun. 24. He has a 3.86 ERA in 21.0 innings of action at home this season.
Hitting
- C.J. Cron is 5-for-23 with a homer vs. Verlander.
- Carlos Correa is 3-for-6 with a home vs. Andriese.
Writer’s Prediction:
Tampa Bay wins, 6-5.
Game Sunday, July 1, 1:10PM EST
Starters: Charlie Morton (10-1, 2.54 ERA) vs. Blake Snell (10-4, 2.31 ERA)
Pitching:
The Astros are 4-0 in Morton’s last four starts, with the pitcher going 3-0 in that span. In his most recent outing, Morton tossed seven scoreless innings while striking out 13 and walking two hitters in a 7-0 win over the Blue Jays at home on Jun. 26. He is 3-0 with a 3.21 ERA in six road starts this year. Snell, meanwhile, was also astounding the last time he took to the mound, allowing zero runs and only a hit while fanning 10 Nationals hitters in an 11-0 win at home on Jun. 25. Snell is 5-1 with a 0.81 ERA in seven starts at Tropicana Field so far this season.
Hitting
- Carlos Gomez is 6-for-18 with a homer vs. Morton.
- Jose Altuve is 3-for-7 with two home runs vs. Snell.
Writer’s Prediction:
Tampa Bay wins, 5-3.
Writer’s Overall Series Prediction
The Astros and The Rays split this early summer four game series, taking tow games apiece.
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