Rangers vs. Astros Best Bet 5/19/22

Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros
Date: Thursday, May 19th, 08:10 ET
Location: Minute Maid Park
TV: ATT SportsNet-SW
Money Line: Rangers +155 / Astros -188
Total Line: 8.5
(MLB Dimeline Sportsbooks >>>)

STARTING PITCHING

Texas: Glenn Otto (1-1, 6.38)
Houston: Framber Valdez (2-2, 2.92)

Rangers Projected Lineup

Nate Lowe 1B
Sam Huff C
Adolis Garcia CF
Nick Solak 2B
Charlie Culberson 3B
Corey Seager SS
Jonah Heim C
Eli White LF
Marcus Semien 2B
Glenn Otto P

Astros Projected Lineup

Jeremy Peña SS
Chas McCormick LF
Yuli Gurriel 1B
Kyle Tucker RF
Alex Bregman 3B
Martín Maldonado C
Yordan Alvarez LF
Jose Altuve 2B
Michael Brantley LF
Framber Valdez P

STRAIGHT UP/ OVER/UNDER / RUN LINE RECORDS

Texas Rangers: 17-19-0 SU / OU 17-15-4 / Run Line W/L 22-14-0
Houston Astros: 24-14-0 SU / OU 11-27-0 / Run Line W/L 20-18-0

The Houston Astros host the Texas Rangers on Thursday, May 19th at Minute Maid Park. The first pitch in this matchup is scheduled for 08:10 ET. The MLB Odds Board places Houston as the favorite (-188), with an OU line set at 8.5.

Recent Form

The Texas Rangers head into today’s matchup after picking up a close win over the LA Angels by the score of 6-5. The LA Angels came up with 7 hits leading to 7 runs against Texas’s pitchers. The Rangers lineup had a good night at the plate, coming up 12 hits, leading to 6 runs. This victory came despite being the betting underdog, getting 170.0 on the moneyline. With the OU line set at 7.5 runs, the Rangers and LA Angels combined to go over this total. This result being part of a larger trend, as Texas has the over has hit in more than half of their games (17-15-4).

In the Rangers’ last 5 games, they are above .500, going 4-1. During this time, they have an average scoring differential of 7. Offensively, the team has put up 33 runs in their last 5 games. Texas’s season average comes in at 4.28 (13th). Texas’s overall series record is just 5-7-0.

Houston will be looking to move on from a tough loss to the Red Sox by the score of 5-1. In the game, the team’s pitching staff allowed a total of 5 hits, leading to 5 runs. With their 2 hits, the Astros could only muster 1 run. Houston dropped the game despite being favored at -130.0. For the season, the team has been favored in 29 games, winning at a rate of 69.0%. Combined, the Astros and the Red Sox’s run total fell below the OU line of 9.0 runs. This result comes as no surprise, as the team’s over-under record is just 11-27-0.

In their last 5 contests, Astros have just 2 wins, going 2-3. Despite this record, the team still has a positive run differential of 3 (last 5). Their recent record comes while the offense has picked up its play, averaging 6.2 runs over their last 5 game, compared to their overall figure of 4.42. On the season, Houston has won more than half of their series, going 6-5-1.

Pitching Matchup

Glenn Otto gets the start for the Rangers, with an overall record of 1-1. To date, Otto has an ERA of 6.38 while lasting an average of 4.53 innings per appearance. So far, Otto has a batting average allowed of 0.235. Opposing batters have been able to drive the ball with power against Otto, averaging 1.99 homers per 9 innings pitched. Up to this point, Otto has a strikeout percentage of just 20.0% and a per game average of 4.0. For the season, he has struggled with command averaging 4.91 walks per outing.

Framber Valdez gets the start for the Astros, with an overall record of 2-2. To date, Valdez has an ERA of 2.92 while lasting an average of 5.71 innings per appearance. Valdez comes into the game with a batting average allowed of 0.23. Opposing batters are hitting for a power at a below average rate against Valdez, as he is allowing just 0.22 per 9 innings. Per game, Framber Valdez is averaging 4.57, on a strikeout percentage of 19.0%. Command has been a problem for Valdez, as he is giving up 3.82 walks per outing.

Texas vs Houston History

For the season, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros will be playing their 4th game of the season. Currently, Houston is winning the season series 3-1. Through 4th games, the series’ over-under record is 0-4, with the average run total sitting at 9.84 runs per game. The average scoring margin in these meetings is 2.5 runs. Dating back to last season, Houston picked up 14 wins compared to 5, taking the season series. In these 19 meetings, the two teams combined for an over-under record of 11-5. Last year, the Rangers and Astros averaged 9.84 runs per game. On average, the winning team won by a margin of 4.58 runs per contest.

Betting Trends

• Texas is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Texas’s last 7 games on the road
• Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Houston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Texas

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Prediction

In this matchup between Houston and Texas, I recommend taking the Astros on the runline. Even though the Astros dropped 2 of 3 games to Boston, they have an excellent matchup against Glenn Otto. In addition, with Framber Valdez on the mound, I don’t expect a lot of scoring from the Rangers.

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