Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros Free Pick 10/05/19

The Houston Astros are set to host the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the ALDS. The Astros currently hold a 1-0 lead in the series, and the matchup is going to be nationally televised on Fox Sports One. The opening pitch is scheduled for 9:07 p.m. ET.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros Odds

Including the regular season, the Rays have gone 97-67 SU this year and are 83-80 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 0.8 units for moneyline gamblers, despite having lost 7.8 units ATS. The Astros, on the other hand, are 108-55 SU and 89-73 ATS. The team’s gained 6.5 units for moneyline bettors and 2.8 units ATS.

Houston games have an over/under record of 73-84-5 in 2019. The Rays have an over/under record of 79-76-8.

The southpaw Blake Snell will get the start for the visiting Rays. Snell is 6-8 with a 4.29 ERA and 147 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 7.50 ERA against Houston this year.

The Astros are going with righty Gerrit Cole (20-5, 2.50 ERA), who has 326 punchouts and 48 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 0.89. Cole is 0-1 with 24 strikeouts and a 3.55 ERA across two starts against Tampa Bay this year.

Houston’s pitching staff has allowed 3.9 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.58, a WHIP of 1.08 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.5. The bullpen has a 3.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.9 K/9.

The Houston offense is putting up 5.7 runs per outing, including 5.6 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .244/.358/.478 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.

Left fielder Michael Brantley and first baseman Yuli Gurriel have led the Astros’ hitters this year. Brantley is hitting .313/.373/.503 with 22 home runs, 90 RBIs and 89 runs scored, while Gurriel’s line sits at .299/.344/.542 with 31 homers, 105 RBIs and 85 runs scored.

For the visitors, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.62 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10.18 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.69, along with a WHIP of 1.14 and a K-per-9 of 9.67.

The Rays offense has slashed .253/.326/.431 on its way to 4.7 runs scored per game this season, including 3.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).

Tampa Bay’s offensive production has been led by Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows, who collectively have blasted 55 home runs. Pham is slashing .275/.369/.454 with 22 home runs, 69 RBIs, 78 runs and 26 steals, while Meadows is hitting .290/.366/.557 with 33 homers, 90 RBIs and 83 runs scored.

The Astros are coming off of a 6-2 win in Game .

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER