Rays vs Astros Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s MLB Game

James Bisson - Head of Content, Betting
James Bisson • Head of Content, Betting 16+ years betting experience
Updated: Aug 3, 2024 , 08:47 AM ET • 4 min read

Yainer Diaz has been red-hot at the plate over the last week and all signs point to that continuing against the Rays on Sunday.

mlb

Aug 03 • 4:15 PM ET
Yainer Diaz Houston Astros MLB
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Astros will look to make it three wins in a row as they host the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park on Saturday night. The Astros are favorites on the MLB odds board after back-to-back 1-runs victories.

The Astros were buyers at the deadline while the Rays were in more of a transitional mode. One of those additions, Yusei Kikuchi, helped Houston to victory on Friday night. Read on for my Rays vs. Astros predictions and MLB picks below.

Rays vs Astros prediction

My best bet
Yainer Diaz Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-145 at DraftKings)

Best odds available in your region

My analysis
Houston Astros designated hitter Yainer Diaz is as hot as they come right now. He hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning on Friday night as a part of a 2-for-3 effort to extend his hitting streak to eight games. The right-handed slugger is batting .548 (17-for-31) over that span with seven extra-base hits.

Diaz is doing it all right now for the Astros. He’s scored a run in three straight games as well as in five of his last six (and six of his last eight) contests. Add on at least one RBI in six of his last nine games and it's not hard to imagine why I love his Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI tonight. 

Tampa Bay Rays starter Zack Littell is 4-7 with a 4.18 ERA and 1.35 WHIP this season, and he’s been much worse on the road. While sporting a respectable 3.00 ERA at home, Littell has allowed 31 runs and 72 hits in 48 innings across 10 starts on the road. That’s a 5.81 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, and .343 BAA. 

The right-handed Littell is also worse against same-handed hitters with a .299 BAA and .802 OPS allowed to right-handed batters. Those splits also go in Diaz’s favor as he is hitting .323 with a .840 OPS at home (.269 with a .684 OPS on the road) and .300 vs. RHP as opposed to .289 vs. LHP.

Overall, Diaz has gone Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI in three straight games, seven of his last eight, and 12 of his last 18 contests. Back the red-hot DH to do it again on Saturday night.

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Rays vs Astros same-game parlay (SGP)

Astros moneyline

Yainer Diaz 2+ total bases

Yainer Diaz 1+ runs

Diaz has picked up 2+ total bases in all eight games during his hitting streak thus far. Diaz has also scored a run in three straight and six of those eight contests.

The Astros and Rays are headed in different directions this season and that should continue here tonight. Back Diaz and the boys to get it done at home.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Rays vs Astros odds

Rays vs Astros live odds

Rays vs Astros opening odds

  • Run line: Tampa Bay +1.5 (-160) | Houston -1.5 (+135)
  • Moneyline: Tampa Bay +130 | Houston -155
  • Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8

Rays vs Astros spread and Over/Under analysis

  • The Astros odds have them as home favorites at around -155 as of Friday night.

  • The Rays odds are between +125 and +135 as of late Friday night.

  • The total is set at a flat 8 with the Over 8 (-115) and Under 8 (-105).

Rays vs Astros trend

The Astros have covered the run line in 31 of their last 51 games (+12.00 units / 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Astros.

Rays vs Astros game info

Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Date: Saturday, 8-3-2024
First pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Rays starting pitcher: Zack Littell
(4-7, 4.18 ERA)
Astros starting pitcher: Ronel Blanco
(9-5, 2.95 ERA)

Rays vs Astros latest injuries

Rays vs Astros weather

Not intended for use in MA.
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James Bisson
Head of Content, Betting

James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief at Covers. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, including a nine-year stint with The Canadian Press and more than five years at theScore. He has covered dozens of marquee events including the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Stanley Cup final and Wrestlemania 23, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Yahoo! Sports, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.

His book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008 and earned him appearances on CBC Radio and Canada AM. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews, more than 200 industry news articles, and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles.

A graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), James has been an avid bettor since the early 2000s, and cites bet365 as his favorite sports betting site due to its superior functionality and quick payouts. His biggest professional highlight: Covering Canada's first Olympic gold medal on home soil – and interviewing Bret Hart. Twice.

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