Houston (12-5) at Tampa Bay (9-9)
When: Saturday, April 22nd 2017
Where: Tropicana Field, St Petersburg, FL
Time: 6:10 ET | TV: ROOT Houston, FSN Sun
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The red-hot Houston Astros look to keep rolling when the play the middle-game of their weekend series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. The American League West-leading Astros have won eight of nine overall after rallying from a two-run deficit Friday night to beat Tampa Bay 6-3 in the opener. Carlos Beltran homered for the second straight night as Houston improved to 5-1 on the road. First baseman Yuli Gurriel has played a big part in Houston’s early season success, going 13-for-26 with a homer and four RBIs over the last eight games after recording three hits (two doubles) on Friday. Homers by Evan Longoria, Logan Morrison and Corey Dickerson had put the Rays up 3-1 after three innings, but they fell for just the third time in 11 home games. Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who is 11-for-23 during a six-game hitting streak for Tampa Bay, left Friday’s game due to illness and is questionable for Saturday. Rays RF Steven Souza Jr. is 9-for-21 with a homer and seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak. Houston’s 12 wins puts them 17 days ahead of last year’s pace.
Pitchers: Astros – Charlie Morton (1-1, 2.81 ERA) | Rays – Blake Snell (0-2, 2.76)
Newcomer Charlie Morton won his first game as a member of the Astros last Monday when he limited the Los Angeles Angels to five hits over five scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory. Morton, who missed most of last season with a torn hamstring, gave up five runs over 11 innings in his first two starts with the Astros after signing a two-year deal. Dickerson is 4-for-9 with a homer versus Morton, who gave up two earned runs over seven innings in a loss to Tampa Bay in their only meeting in 2014.
Blake Snell will look to solve his control issues against the free-swinging Astros. He has walked 10 batters in 16.1 innings while striking out 11. Snell allowed four runs (one earned) on seven hits and a pair of walks over five innings in a 4-3 loss at Boston on Monday afternoon. He has given up six unearned in three starts and was hit hard by Houston for five runs (four earned) in three innings last year as Carlos Correa, Evan Gattis and George Springer each went 2-for-2.
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I don’t have much trust in either pitcher, so the edge goes to the offense and the red-hot Astros in this one. Houston is definitely a World Series threat this year and they’re off to a much better start than their 84 win campaign in 2016.
Pick: Astros -118
W/L TRENDS
| Houston |
- Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 road games.
- Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 6-0 in their last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Astros are 8-1 in their last 9 overall.
- Astros are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. American League East.
- Astros are 6-1 in their last 7 games following a win.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 during game 2 of a series.
- Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Astros are 6-20 in their last 26 games on astroturf.
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| Tampa Bay |
- Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 games on astroturf.
- Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 home games.
- Rays are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Rays are 7-15 in their last 22 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Rays are 19-41 in their last 60 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 3-7 in their last 10 during game 2 of a series.
- Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 1-5 in Snell’s last 6 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 1-6 in Snell’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Rays are 1-6 in Snell’s last 7 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Rays are 0-4 in Snell’s last 4 starts vs. American League West.
- Rays are 0-8 in Snell’s last 8 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Rays are 0-4 in Snell’s last 4 starts.
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OU TRENDS
| Houston |
- Over is 5-0 in Astros last 5 road games.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 vs. American League East.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 overall.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Astros last 10 on astroturf.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 20-8 in Astros last 28 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
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| Tampa Bay |
- Under is 5-1 in Rays last 6 Saturday games.
- Over is 5-1 in Rays last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Over is 4-1 in Rays last 5 on astroturf.
- Over is 4-1 in Rays last 5 home games.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Rays last 10 vs. American League West.
- Over is 6-2 in Rays last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 18-7 in Rays last 25 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 15-6-1 in Rays last 22 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 14-6-2 in Rays last 22 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 5-0 in Snell’s last 5 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Snell’s last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 6-2 in Snell’s last 8 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Over is 5-2 in Snell’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-2 in Snell’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-2 in Snell’s last 7 home starts.
- Under is 7-3 in Snell’s last 10 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
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HEAD TO HEAD
- Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
- Under is 14-2-1 in the last 17 meetings in Tampa Bay.
- Astros are 10-23 in the last 33 meetings.
- Astros are 2-7 in the last 9 meetings in Tampa Bay.
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