Astros vs. Rangers Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/19/2022

The Texas Rangers (17-19) roll into Thursday’s matchup with the Houston Astros (24-14) looking to extend a four-game winning streak. The contest starts at 8:10 PM ET with the Astros listed as -206 favorites on the moneyline to stop the Rangers’ streak. Framber Valdez gets the starting nod for Houston while Glenn Otto is Texas’ starter for the contest.

Astros vs. Rangers Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Rangers

Our computer pick: Texas Rangers (+174) and Over (8.5)

Astros vs. Rangers Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Framber Valdez
• Texas Rangers probable starting pitcher: Glenn Otto
• Game Day: Thursday, May 19, 2022
• Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Framber Valdez

• Valdez gets the start for the Astros, his eighth of the season. He is 2-2 with a 2.93 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched.
• The left-hander’s last time out was on Friday against the Washington Nationals, when he tossed 7 2/3 innings, surrendering one earned run while allowing seven hits.
• In seven games this season, the 28-year-old has amassed an ERA of 2.93, with 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .230 against him.
• Valdez is trying to build upon a fourth-game quality start streak in this game.
• Valdez will aim to go five or more innings for his fifth straight appearance. He’s averaging 5.2 frames per outing.
• He will face a Rangers offense that is hitting .222 as a unit (25th in MLB). It is also slugging a collective .359 (20th in MLB) with 39 total home runs (10th in MLB).
• Head-to-head against the Rangers this season, Valdez has pitched six innings without giving up an earned run on four hits, while striking out five.
• This season, the 28-year-old ranks 22nd in ERA (2.93), 46th in WHIP (1.275), and 44th in K/9 (7.2) among qualifying pitchers.

Rangers Starter Glenn Otto

• The Rangers’ Otto (1-1) will make his fifth start of the season.
• The right-hander gave up eight earned runs in four innings pitched on Saturday in his last outing, a matchup with the Boston Red Sox.
• The 26-year-old has pitched to a 6.38 ERA this season with 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 4.9 walks per nine across four games.
• In four starts this season, Otto has lasted five or more innings two times, with an average of 4.2 innings per appearance.
• The Astros have scored 168 runs this season, which ranks ninth in MLB. They have 290 hits, 17th in baseball, with 56 home runs (first in the league).
• The right-hander has allowed the Astros to go 4-for-17 with a home run and two RBI in 4 1/3 innings this season.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have been favorites in 28 games this season and won 20 (71.4%) of those contests.
• Houston has played as a favorite of -206 or more twice this season and won both games.
• The oddsmakers’ moneyline implies a 67.3% chance of a victory for the Astros.
• Houston and its opponents have hit the over in 11 of their 38 games with a total this season.
• In 38 games with a spread this season, the Astros are 20-18-0 ATS.

Rangers Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rangers have come away with 13 wins in the 26 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• This season, Texas has come away with a win one times in four chances when named as an underdog of at least +174 or longer on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Rangers have a 36.5% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
• Texas and their opponents have gone over in 17 of their 36 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Rangers are 22-14-0 against the spread in their 36 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yordan Alvarez has hit a team-high 12 homers.
• Of all hitters in the majors, Alvarez’s home run total places him second, and his RBI tally ranks him 24th.
• Alex Bregman is batting .230 with nine doubles, five home runs and 24 walks.
• Bregman ranks 51st in homers in the majors, and 24th in RBI.
• Kyle Tucker has racked up a team-high 25 runs batted in.
• Michael Brantley’s .285 batting average is a team-high mark.
• Brantley brings an eight-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last 10 games he is hitting .297 with four doubles, a triple, a home run, seven walks and six RBI.

Rangers Leaders & Batting Stats

• Corey Seager paces the Rangers with eight home runs and has racked up a team-high batting average of .244.
• Among all hitters in the big leagues, Seager is 16th in home runs and 63rd in RBI.
• Seager has collected a hit in five games in a row. In his last five games he is batting .333 with a double, a home run, four walks and three RBI.
• Adolis Garcia has capitalized on opportunities as he paces his team with 24 runs batted in.
• Garcia ranks 38th in home runs and 16th in RBI among all hitters in MLB.
• Jonah Heim is hitting .300 with five doubles, four home runs and 10 walks.
• Brad Miller has a double, six home runs and six walks while batting .213.

Betting Tips for Astros vs. Rangers

Our best bet is the Rangers on the moneyline at +174 after digging through all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup. Our computer projects the total score will over the total of 8.5 runs.