Rays vs. Astros Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, April 24, 2023

April 24, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Tampa Bay Rays (19-3) are -185 favorites to extend their five-game win streak when they face the Houston Astros (12-10), winners of four in a row. The game begins Monday at 6:40 PM ET on MLB Network, live from Tropicana Field.

Taj Bradley will get the ball for Tampa Bay while Houston will counter with Jose Urquidy.

Rays vs. Astros Odds

Rays odds to win: -185
Astros odds to win: +157
Spread: Rays -1.5
Total: 8.5 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Monday, April 24, 2023
Time: 6:40 PM ET
TV: MLB Network

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Who Will Win Rays vs. Astros?

Rays and Astros Betting Trends

The Rays have put together a 19-2 record in games they were favored on the moneyline (winning 90.5% of those games).

Tampa Bay has played in 11 games as moneyline favorites with odds of -185 or shorter and won each of them.

This season, the Astros have won five out of the seven games in which they’ve been the underdog.

Houston has not entered a game this season as a bigger underdog on the moneyline than the +157 odds on it winning this game.

The Rays have combined with opponents to go over the total 12 times this season for a 12-7-3 record against the over/under.

Games involving the Astros have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 14 of 22 chances this season.

Rays Stats & Insights

The Rays score the most runs in baseball (149 total, 6.8 per game).

The Tampa Bay Rays have hit an MLB-leading 48 home runs, averaging 2.2 per game.

The Rays have an MLB-leading .282 batting average.

Tampa Bay’s hitters strike out eight times per game, the seventh-fewest strikeouts in MLB.

The 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings put together by the Rays pitching staff ranks eighth in MLB.

Tampa Bay has a 2.71 team ERA that is No. 1 among all MLB pitching staffs.

Astros Stats & Insights

The Astros are among the highest scoring teams in the majors, ranking sixth with 113 total runs this season.

Houston has hit 22 homers this season, which ranks 20th in the majors.

The Astros’ .255 batting average is among the best in baseball, ranking eighth in MLB.

Houston ranks 11th in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of 8.4 Ks per contest.

The Astros average 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings as a pitching staff, third-most in the league.

Houston has pitched to a 3.22 ERA this season, which ranks third in baseball.

Rays Key Players to Watch

Bradley (2-0) makes the start for the Rays, his third of the season.

Randy Arozarena leads Tampa Bay in batting average (.341) and runs batted in (22) this season while also slugging five homers.

Yandy Diaz leads Tampa Bay in home runs with six while driving in 15 runs and slugging .587.

Wander Franco is slashing .289/.372/.542 this season for the Rays.

Josh Lowe has 19 hits and an OBP of .390 to go with a slugging percentage of .673 this season.

Astros Key Players to Watch

The Astros will hand the ball to Urquidy (1-1) for his fifth start of the season.

Kyle Tucker is hitting .303 with three doubles, five home runs and 17 walks.

Yordan Alvarez’s six home runs and 27 runs batted in are both team-highs.

Alex Bregman is hitting .235 with three doubles, two home runs and 17 walks.

Mauricio Dubon’s .329 batting average leads his team.

Rays and Astros Injuries

Rays: Jose Siri: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Ryan Thompson: 15 Day IL (Lat), Tyler Glasnow: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Jeffrey Springs: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Shane Baz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Shawn Armstrong: 60 Day IL (Neck), Andrew Kittredge: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Astros: Jose Altuve: 10 Day IL (Thumb), Michael Brantley: 10 Day IL (Shoulder), Lance McCullers Jr.: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Parker Mushinski: 15 Day IL (Spine), Chas McCormick: day-to-day (Eye)