Expect a great season from Houston Astros starter Gerrit Cole. Why? He’s set to become perhaps the most attractive free agent on the market after the 2019 season. Cole takes the mound Wednesday against the Texas Rangers as the favorite on the MLB betting lines.
How to Bet Astros vs Rangers MLB Betting Lines & Game Info
- When: Wednesday, 8:05 PM ET
- Where: Globe Life Park in Arlington
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Gerrit Cole/Mike Minor
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Betting Lines: Houston Astros -195 / Texas Rangers +165 (Total 9)
Why Bet on Houston?
The Astros and Rangers will renew the Silver Boot Series with the Astros having won the boot in each of the last two seasons, with 12-7 records in both campaigns.
The biggest questions about Houston this season were centered on the pitching staff, specifically on the rotation. It looks like any doubts have been at least temporarily put to bed based on their starter’s performances. However, the lineup has been struggling.
The Astros offense could get a boost in Arlington, as six of their regulars have a career OPS over .800 at Globe Life Park. First baseman Yuli Gurriel leads the way with a career .339/.367/.643 slash line, while CF George Springer and RF Josh Reddick have 12 homers apiece at the venue.
It’s Gerrit Cole on the mound here. Cole yielded four runs — one earned — over six innings and took the loss Friday against the Rays. Cole did strike out 10 batters against zero walks and induced 20 swinging strikes in his 101 pitches on the night. Cole retired the first two batters he faced in the third inning, but a fielding error by fill-in shortstop Aledmys Diaz led to a three-run frame behind RBI singles from Tommy Pham and Ji-Man Choi. He later gave up a laser of a homer by Yandy Diaz in the sixth. Cole tossed 101 pitches. On his 99th, he hit 99 mph.
“I had an opportunity to stop the bleeding a bit with the curveball to Choi. I threw him a good one and I followed it up with one that wasn’t as sharp and he was able to fist it into center field,” Cole said. “I couldn’t stop the bleeding there, and it’s about it.”
Reliever Ryan Pressly has made 22 consecutive regular-season scoreless appearances (19IP). In those, which date back to Aug. 15, 2018, Pressly has allowed a .138 average (9-for-65) and recorded 28 strikeouts.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 2.50
- Hits: 7.67
- Walks: 3.17
- Strike Outs: 6.83
Defense
- Runs: 3.00
- Hits: 6.00
- Walks: 1.17
- Strike Outs: 10.33
Why Bet on Texas?
Elvis Andrus batted .423 (14-33) in 8 games vs. the Astros in 2018, 2nd-highest average of any big-league player against Houston last season (min. 25 PA) to only Boston’s Xander Bogaerts (.444, 12-27). Andrus has hit .303/.357/.416/.773 (142-469) over 122 career games vs the Astros. His six triples vs. Houston are the most against any single opponent.
It’s lefty Mike Minor for Texas. He enters his 2nd season with the Rangers after leading Texas starters in wins (12), starts (28), innings (157.0), strikeouts (132), and quality starts (13) in 2018. Minor more than doubled his innings total from the previous season with Kansas City, as he returned to a starting role for the first time since 2014.
Minor was tabbed as the Rangers’ Opening Day starting pitcher by Manager Chris Woodward, a career first for Minor. He became the 10th different pitcher to start an opener for Texas in the last 11 seasons beginning 2009, with Cole Hamels (2016 and 2018) being the only 2-time O.D. starter in that span.
In that opener vs. the Cubs, Minor allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings in a 12-4 loss. He allowed five hits, two walks and struck out three. Minor was actually rolling along through the early innings before getting shelled in the fifth frame. Javier Baez zapped him for a solo bomb in the fourth. He surrendered three hits, a walk and a hit batsman in the fifth frame to let in three runs, then was relieved. The next batter (Baez again) hit a three-run bomb off Jesse Chavez with two of those runs being charged to Minor. Minor made five starts against the Astros last season and was 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA.
Closer Jose Leclerc’s scoreless streak is 23.1 innings dating back to 7/25/18. During that run, Leclerc has held opponents to a .081/.171/.122/.292 (6- 74) with 7 BB/33 SO.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 6.00
- Hits: 7.80
- Walks: 4.80
- Strike Outs: 8.60
Defense
- Runs: 6.80
- Hits: 11.60
- Walks: 5.40
- Strike Outs: 6.20
Astros vs Rangers MLB Betting Trends
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Texas
- Houston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Houston is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games on the road
- Texas is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas’s last 5 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Astros vs Rangers
Houston Astros 5 – Texas Rangers 4
