Astros vs. Rangers Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/11/2022

The Houston Astros (71-41) are -319 favorites when they take on the Texas Rangers (49-61) on Thursday at 2:10 PM ET. Yordan Alvarez has 98 hits on the season and will hope to hit his milestone 100th once the game begins at Minute Maid Park. Framber Valdez will get the ball for Houston while Texas counter with Cole Ragans.

Astros vs. Rangers Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Rangers

Our best bet is the Rangers on the moneyline at +255 after looking at all of the key trends and stats for this matchup. Our computer predicts the total score will under the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Texas Rangers (+255) and Under (8)

Astros vs. Rangers Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Framber Valdez
• Texas Rangers probable starting pitcher: Cole Ragans
• Game Day: Thursday, August 11, 2022
• Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Framber Valdez

• Valdez (10-4) takes the mound for the Astros in his 22nd start of the season. He’s put together a 2.87 ERA in 135 innings pitched, with 120 strikeouts.
• His most recent appearance was on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians, when the lefty went 6 1/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs while allowing seven hits.
• The 28-year-old has a 2.87 ERA and 8 strikeouts per nine innings in 21 games this season, while giving up a batting average of .217 to his opponents.
• Valdez is looking for his 19th quality start in a row.
• Valdez is looking for his 19th straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.1 frames per appearance on the hill.
• He will face a Rangers squad that is batting .239 as a unit (19th in MLB). It is also slugging a collective .397 (13th in MLB) with 136 total home runs (eighth in MLB).
• In 13 innings over two appearances against the Rangers this season, Valdez has a 0.69 ERA and a 1.077 WHIP while his opponents are hitting .208.
• The 28-year-old’s 2.87 ERA ranks 14th, 1.148 WHIP ranks 26th, and 8 K/9 ranks 34th among qualifying pitchers this season.

Rangers Starter Cole Ragans

• The Rangers’ Ragans will make his second start of the season.
• The left-hander last pitched on Friday, when he threw five innings against the Chicago White Sox, giving up no earned runs.
• He has pitched in one games this season with an ERA of .00, a batting average against of .167 and 5.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
• The Astros are batting .240 this season, 17th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .421 (sixth in the league) with 154 home runs.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have won 64, or 66.7%, of the 96 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Houston has played as a favorite of -319 or more twice this season and won both games.
• The bookmakers’ moneyline implies a 76.1% chance of a victory for the Astros.
• Games involving Houston have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 41 of 113 chances this season.
• The Astros are 58-55-0 against the spread in their 113 chances this season.

Rangers Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rangers have been underdogs in 68 games this season and have come away with the win 33 times (48.5%) in those contests.
• Texas has yet to play a game this season with longer moneyline odds than +255.
• The Rangers have an implied victory probability of 28.2% according to the moneyline set by sportsbooks for this matchup.
• Texas’ games have gone over the total in 54 of their 111 opportunities.
• The Rangers are 62-49-0 against the spread in their 111 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Alvarez leads the Astros with 31 home runs and 74 runs batted in, while putting up a team-high batting average of .295.
• Among all hitters in MLB, Alvarez is third in homers and eighth in RBI.
• Kyle Tucker is batting .247 with 17 doubles, 20 home runs and 49 walks.
• Tucker is 27th in homers in MLB, and 14th in RBI.
• Tucker carries a two-game streak with at least one hit into this contest. In his last five games he is hitting .400 with two doubles, a home run, three walks and five RBI.
• Alex Bregman has 26 doubles, 13 home runs and 60 walks while hitting .251.
• Bregman is on a two-game hitting streak entering this contest. In his last five games he is hitting .333 with a double and three walks.
• Jose Altuve is batting .283 with 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 42 walks.

Rangers Leaders & Batting Stats

• Corey Seager leads the Rangers with 25 long balls.
• Seager is 10th in homers and 34th in RBI among all hitters in MLB.
• Seager carries a two-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is batting .350 with a home run, four walks and three RBI.
• Marcus Semien has 18 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 37 walks while hitting .239.
• Semien is 43rd in home runs and 49th in RBI among all major league hitters this year.
• Adolis Garcia has driven in a team-best 71 runs batted in.
• Nate Lowe leads the Rangers with a team-leading batting average of .281.