The Rays and Astros clash Friday in game 1 of an MLB series at Minute Maid Park. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Rays Betting Preview

The Rays could use a win given they’re 4-8 since the all star break. The Rays trail the Orioles by 1.5 games in the AL East. The Rays pitching staff is 1st in ERA (3.70), 2nd in WHIP (1.18) and 18th in quality starts (33). The Rays’ offense is 4th in runs per game (5.19), 11th in batting average (.255) and 4th in homers (150). Yandy Diaz leads the Rays with 104 hits and 49 RBI, while Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena have combined for 196 hits and 109 RBI. Shane McClanahan gets the ball, and he is 11-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 112 strikeouts this season. McClanahan is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA and 5 strikeouts in his career against the Astros.

Tampa Bay Rays Team Facts

• The Rays have lost five of their last six games as favourites against American League opponents.
• The Rays have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games against American League opponents following a home loss.
• The Rays have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three Friday night games as road favourites.
• The Rays have trailed after 7 innings in three of their last four games as favourites.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last four night games.

Astros Betting Preview

The Astros are starting to find some consistency and are 8-4 since the all star break. The Astros trail the Rangers by 2 games in the AL West. The Astros pitching staff is 5th in ERA (3.82), 17th in WHIP (1.27) and 5th in quality starts (47). The Astros offense is 12th in runs per game (4.70), 17th in batting average (.248) and 10th in homers (129). Kyle Tucker leads the Astros with 111 hits and 69 RBI while Alex Bregman and Jose Abreu have combined for 193 hits and 117 RBI. Cristian Javier gets the ball, and he is 7-2 with a 4.32 ERA and 94 strikeouts this season. Javier is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 17 strikeouts in his career against the Rays.

Houston Astros Team Facts

• The Astros have won each of their last five games as underdogs against American League opponents following a home loss.
• The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last 10 games as underdogs against AL East opponents following a loss.
• The Astros have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games as home underdogs against AL East opponents.
• The Astros have won the first inning in three of their last four games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
• The Astros have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games as home underdogs against AL East opponents.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Yordan Alvarez has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last seven home appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Jose Abreu has recorded at least one RBI in each of his four previous appearances against the Rays after not playing the previous day.
• Alex Bregman has hit a home run in four of the Astros’ last six night games.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances with the Astros as underdogs against the Rays.
• Alex Bregman has scored at least one run in each of the Astros’ last nine night games.
• Kyle Tucker ranks 8th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.304) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Houston Astros ranks T29th in the league for triples this season (7).
• The Houston Astros ranks 4th in the league for strikeouts against this season (808).
• The Tampa Bay Rays ranks 1st in the league for ERA this season (3.70).
• The Tampa Bay Rays ranks 1st in the league for opponent batting average this season (.226).

Randy’s Pick

You can make a case for either side in this matchup, but the bottom line is we’re getting probably the CY Young winner in Shane McClanahan at a near pick em price. The Astros are at home and playing the better ball right now, and Cristian Javier has been solid in his own right. However, McClanahan has a 2.89 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while having 112 strikeouts in 106 innings. The AL CY Young looks like it’s going to come down to Cole or McClanahan. I have to side with the Rays in this near toss up price.