Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction 4-13-24 Picks

The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros meet Saturday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Rangers vs Astros prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. We will examine:

• The Texas Rangers recent form and player performance
• The Houston Astros recent form and player performance
• Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Texas Rangers
• Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Houston Astros
• Recent betting trends in games played between the Rangers and Astros
• A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Rangers vs Astros game

Texas Rangers Betting Preview

The Rangers had a series versus the Oakland Athletics this week. Texas lost two of three games in that set, winning 6-2 Wednesday otherwise. On Friday versus Houston, the Rangers were up 8-1 at one point on the way to a wild 12-8 win. Starter Dane Dunning gave up three earned runs in 5.0 innings. Adolis Garcia put up two hits, two RBI, two runs and two walks at the plate.

In the starting pitcher role for the Saturday matchup, the Rangers will go with Andrew Heaney. In his two starts this year Heaney is 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA and nine strikeouts over 8.1 innings. Heaney is 46-50 with a 4.52 ERA in 173 games (156 starts) in his MLB career.

Houston Astros Betting Preview

Over on the Houston side, they took on the Kansas City Royals this week and didn’t do very well. The Astros lost 4-3, 11-2 and 13-3 in those three games. On Friday Houston gave up six runs in the third inning alone during the loss. Jonathan Patrick France lasted 4.0 innings in the start, giving up eight earned on eight hits and four walks.

It’ll be Ronel Blanco in the starting pitcher role for the Astros on Saturday. This year over his two starts Blanco is 2-0 with a clean 0.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 15.0 innings. Blanco is 4-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 26 career games (nine starts).

Houston Astros Team Facts

• The underdogs have won 15 of the last 16 games between the Rangers and Astros.
• The Astros have failed to cover the run line each of their last 10 home games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• The Astros have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six games as favorites against AL West opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last four games as home favorites against AL West opponents.
• The Astros have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three games as favorites against American League opponents.

Texas Rangers Team Facts

• The Rangers have won 14 of their last 15 games as underdogs.
• The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Rangers’ last nine games at Minute Maid Park.
• The Rangers have led after 3 innings in each of their last three games as underdogs against AL West opponents.
• The Rangers have led after 7 innings in each of their last six games as underdogs against AL West opponents.
• The Rangers have led after 5 innings in each of their last six games as underdogs against AL West opponents.

Rangers vs Astros Prediction

I’ll take a stab on Houston. Blanco is pitching great so far over his first two starts. He went 6.0 innings versus the Rangers in his most recent outing (April 7), giving up zero earned on one hit and four walks in a victory. As for Heaney, he’s coming off six earned in 3.2 innings on April 8 versus the Astros but should look better in this one.

On Friday the Astros got drilled early on with a bad third inning (and a bad sixth inning later). It was a pretty wild night offensively for both teams. The good news is that Houston’s bats were working very well. The bad news is the 12 earned runs between France and Joel Kuhnel. On Saturday Blanco should be able to start things off well. If the pen holds up this time Houston should have a solid shot at a much-needed W.