Astros vs. Rangers Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/20/2022

The Houston Astros (25-14) and Jose Altuve (four hits last time out) are favored (-178) on the moneyline for their matchup with the Texas Rangers (17-20) on Friday at 8:10 PM ET. Houston’s Cristian Javier and Texas’ Martin Perez have been named the starters for this contest.

Astros vs. Rangers Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Rangers

Our computer pick: Texas Rangers (+152) and Over (8)

Astros vs. Rangers Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Cristian Javier
• Texas Rangers probable starting pitcher: Martín Pérez
• Game Day: Friday, May 20, 2022
• Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Cristian Javier

• Javier (2-1 with a 3.20 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings pitched) makes the start for the Astros, his fourth of the season.
• The righty last pitched on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, when he threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs while giving up eight hits.
• In seven games this season, the 25-year-old has a 3.20 ERA and 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings, while giving up a batting average of .211 to opposing hitters.
• He will face a Rangers offense that ranks 17th in the league with 155 runs while batting .221 as a squad. It has a collective .355 slugging percentage (21st in MLB action) and has hit a total of 39 home runs (11th in MLB).
• Javier has a 3.60 ERA and a 1.200 WHIP against the Rangers this season in five innings pitched, allowing a .222 batting average over one appearance.

Rangers Starter Martín Pérez

• Perez (2-2) will take the mound for the Rangers, his eighth start of the season.
• The left-hander last pitched on Sunday, when he gave up one earned run and allowed five hits in six innings against the Boston Red Sox.
• The 31-year-old has pitched in seven games this season with an ERA of 2.01, a 3 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.017.
• If he completes six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed, he’ll earn his sixth quality start in a row.
• Pérez will look to pitch five or more innings for the sixth start in a row.
• The Astros rank ninth in MLB with 173 runs scored this season. They have a .231 batting average this campaign with 56 home runs (first in the league).
• The Astros have gone 2-for-23 with a double and an RBI in one game against the left-hander this season.
• The 31-year-old ranks sixth in ERA (2.01), 15th in WHIP (1.017), and 40th in K/9 (7.4) among qualified pitchers in the majors this season.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have won 21, or 72.4%, of the 29 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Houston is 6-1 this season when entering a game favored by -178 or more on the moneyline.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 64% chance of a victory for the Astros.
• Games involving Houston have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 11 of 39 chances this season.
• The Astros have an ATS record of 21-18-0 in 39 games with a spread this season.

Rangers Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rangers have been victorious in 13, or 48.1%, of the 27 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• This season, Texas has been victorious four times in eight chances when named as an underdog of at least +152 or longer on the moneyline.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Rangers have a 39.7% chance of pulling out a win.
• Texas and their opponents have hit the over in 17 of their 37 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Rangers are 22-15-0 against the spread in their 37 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yordan Alvarez paces the Astros with 12 home runs.
• Alvarez’s home runs put him second in MLB, and he ranks 25th in RBI.
• Kyle Tucker has been productive as he paces his team with 26 RBI.
• Among all MLB hitters, Tucker is 25th in homers and 15th in RBI.
• Alex Bregman is hitting .223 with nine doubles, five home runs and 24 walks.
• Michael Brantley has a club-high .285 batting average.
• Brantley is riding an eight-game hitting streak into this one. During his last 10 outings he is batting .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 homers while racking up a team-leading batting average of .245.
• Seager’s home run total places him 16th in MLB, and he ranks 61st in RBI.
• Seager brings a hitting streak of six games into this game. In his last 10 games he is batting .286 with a double, four home runs, seven walks and seven RBI.
• Adolis Garcia has driven in the most runs for the Rangers with 24 runs batted in.
• Garcia ranks 40th overall in home runs and 17th in RBI this year.
• Jonah Heim is batting .297 with five doubles, four home runs and 10 walks.
• Brad Miller is batting .211 with a double, six home runs and six walks.

Betting Tips for Astros vs. Rangers

Our best bet is the Rangers on the moneyline at +152 after looking at all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup. Our computer projects the scoring will over the total of 8 runs.