The Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros meet Sunday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. This will be the finale in a three-game weekend series. The Rays took a close win in the opener, then in game two Houston took a blowout victory by 13 runs. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at  Sports Chat Place.

Tampa Bay Rays 

The Rays were able to eke out a 4-3 win in the Friday opener of this set, thanks in part to three first-inning runs from a Brandon Lowe homer and two hits from Wander Franco. In game two Tampa Bay gave up runs in all but two innings during a 17-4 blowout loss. Isaac Paredes was one of the only bright spots with a 2-for-3 outing, two homers and three RBI. 

In the starter role for the Sunday game the Rays are going with Tyler Glasnow. Over 11 starts this year Glasnow is 4-3 with a 3.36 ERA and 88 strikeouts over 61.2 innings. Glasnow is fresh off a win over Miami with 7.0 innings and one earned run. 

Houston Astros 

Over on the Astros’ side, they had Friday’s game tied until the ninth but ultimately ran out of gas. Jose Abreu notched a two-run homer in the loss, and Jose Altuve had two hits with a run. In the Saturday game Houston scored multiple runs in five different frames. Jeremy Pena had four RBI, while both Yainer Diaz and Jose Abreu added three RBI apiece. 

It’ll be Brandon Bielak in the start for the Astros on Sunday. In his 13 games (12 starts) Bielak is 5-5 with a 3.62 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 69.2 innings. In his last start July 24 Bielak gave up three earned in 4.2 innings during a no-decision versus the Rangers. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m sticking with the Rays in this one. Glasnow is cruising these days. he’s got just four earned on 14 hits and four walks in 20.0 innings over his last three starts, going 2-0 in that time. Glasnow has gone 7.0 innings in each of his last two outings. As for Bielak, he’s coming off a sketchy appearance versus Texas but he’d been pitching pretty well before that (10.2 innings; two earned). In the Saturday game two matchup, Tampa Bay had a few really rough pitching performances (relievers Calvin Faucher and Rene Pinto had 11 earned between them). Outside of Paredes, the offense was pretty tame overall. The Rays are going to need a big bounce-back effort in the finale, but I think they’re up for it.