Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers

The Houston Astros have lost some of their potent offense in recent years, but the pitching remains great, so they stay in many games. The Astros staff has allowed just 154 total runs this season in 44 games, or about 2.7 runs per game. The Texas Rangers are built similarly. The Rangers staff has allowed just 158 runs in 46 games, or about 2.7 runs per contest. The problem is that both of these offenses are poor. The Astros have played seven of their last 11 games UNDER the total, while the Rangers have held opponents to three or fewer runs in their previous six games. Make the play UNDER the total.

The Houston Astros do not have the high-powered offensive teams they have fielded recently. What has remained is a pitching staff that will keep them in a lot of games. Houston has kept four of their last seven opponents to 1 or fewer. The Astros have allowed just 154 runs all season, and the only AL team better is Kansas City at 148. The issue is offense, where the Astros produce just four runs per game. Texas has the pitching that Houston does, and the Rangers have allowed 154 total runs. Houston has played seven of their last 10 to the UNDER, and just two of the Rangers' last eight games have seen them play OVER the total. Make the play UNDER the total.

The Houston Astros hve not been the same hitting team as we have seen in the recent past, but the solid pitching remains a constant. Hunter Brown is quickly emerging as a top of the rotation pitcher as the Astros are 6-1 in his seven starts, and he carries a 1.48 ERA into this contest. The Rangers will go with Jacob deGrom, who has battled injuries throughout his career, but when healthy he is a Top 5 MLB pitcher. He carries a 2.72 ERA into this game and has worked himself back into pitching shape as the last five starts, deGrom's opponents have scored just six total runs off of him. Hunter Brown has allowed no runs in four of his six starts. I like the UNDER in this one.