Houston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions

The Houston Astros (64-55) and Tampa Bay Rays (59-60) get together Wednesday, as they close out a 3-game set in Tampa. The opening pitch at Tropicana Field will be at 6:50 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Astros vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Astros lead 3-2

Houston has taken the 1st 2 games of this series and won 7 straight contests. Astros pitching has yielded just 3 runs over the 2 games, and the Houston staff owns a tidy 2.42 ERA since Aug. 4.

Tampa Bay has lost 4 of its last 5 and has batted just .214/.279/.349 (.629 OPS) since July 31.

Astros at Rays projected starters

RHP Ronel Blanco vs. RHP Zack Littell

Blanco (9-6, 3.02 ERA) is tabbed for his 23rd start. He has a 1.05 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 through 128 IP.

• Last outing: No-decision, 4 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K in 8-4 win at Boston Red Sox Friday
• Career vs. Rays: 0-1, 3.86 ERA (7 IP, 3 ER), 10 H, 2 BB, 10 K in 2 appearances (1 start)

Littell (5-8, 4.11 ERA) makes his 24th start. He has a 1.35 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 through 124 2/3 IP.

• Last outing: Loss, 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 K in 4-1 home loss vs. Baltimore Orioles Friday
• Career vs. Astros: 2-0, 2.53 ERA (10 IP, 3 ER), 12 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 2 starts

Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.

Astros at Rays odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:36 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline: Astros -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Rays +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Astros -1.5 (+145) | Rays +1.5 (-175)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Astros at Rays picks and predictions

Prediction

Astros 5, Rays 4

Houston is 12-6 over its last 18 games vs. the Rays.

The Astros were a solid betting choice in the 1st 2 games. They are a bit less so in this one due to Blanco likely being overvalued by bettors. But the Houston righty has been undone of late by a batting average on balls in play in recent starts. A recency-bias look at both starters is kinder to Blanco.

Tampa Bay figures to have overplayed its runs/runs-against profile to date and is a bit of an institutional fade lean before any pitching is considered.

But the leans toward the visiting nine here are small. Consider a partial-unit play on the ASTROS (-120).

More juice here; no value. AVOID.

Both clubs tote a few Under trends into this series finale, but the Over is a slight lean.

The opposing lineups both saw Blanco and Littell in the Houston-Tampa series earlier this month. And again, Blanco could well be overrated by many prognosticators.

Tag the OVER 8 (-105) — price available at FanDuel Sportsbook.

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