Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 5/2/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Sunday, May 2, 2021

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Michael Wacha and the Tampa Bay Rays (13-13, 2nd in AL East) host the Houston Astros (13-12, 4th in AL West) at Tropicana Field on Sunday.

Houston has a slugging rate of .404 and have struck out 179 times, while taking a walk on 72 occasions. They have accrued 114 runs batted in in addition to 214 base knocks this year, while their average at the plate is sitting at .252. The Astros have compiled 48 two-baggers as a team and have smacked 25 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accounted for 122 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .318. As a unit, the Houston Astros are notching 4.9 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 4th in MLB.

Astros pitchers have conceded 30 long balls and also 98 total runs (12th in baseball). They have walked 72 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 4.07 as a team this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 3.04 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.16. The Astros have a team ERA of 3.87 so far this season (13th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 219 hitters.

The Astros have sent 75 relievers to the mound on the season. The relievers have inherited 38 runners for the season with 36.8% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have 5 saves for the season and have blown 3 of their 8 save chances. The Astros relievers have earned a save rate of 62.5% and has stepped onto the mound in 21 save situations. The bullpen have notched 12 holds for the season (15th in baseball). Astros relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 21 times in addition to having 20 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Astros have turned 72.1% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 1,989 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 5th in baseball. The Houston Astros have earned a total of 663 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 204 assists and 9 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .990 which is 3rd in baseball, and they have twisted 185 double plays.

Javier has pitched in 75 frames and is sitting with 80 strikeouts thus far in his career. His ERA is 2.76 (23 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 0.947. He has conceded 47 hits (5.6 hits per 9 innings) and has 24 walks. Javier (8-2 career record) has earned a FIP of 4.06 while he has gone up against 293 hitters in the major leagues.

Tampa Bay is sitting with 27 long balls this season as well as 103 runs batted in. They have recorded 49 two-baggers, while taking a walk 88 times as well as recording 111 runs. The Tampa Bay Rays have earned an on-base percentage of .306 in addition to a team batting average of .227 so far this season. The Rays hold a slugging % of .382 and they average 4.27 runs per game (15th in baseball). They have struck out on 261 occasions (3rd in the league) and have earned a total of 199 base hits.

The Rays have a team WHIP of 1.165 in addition to having a FIP of 3.55 as a staff for the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 3.36 (235 strikeouts against 70 walks). They come in at 25th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 204. They have allowed 26 HR's and they allow 4.40 runs per 9 innings (17th in baseball). The Tampa Bay pitching staff have given up 115 runs on the campaign while holding a team ERA of 4.02 (105 earned runs yielded).

Tampa Bay has called on relievers to take the mound in 15 save opportunities and they have converted 9 saves. They sit at 19th in baseball holding a save rate of 60.0%, and they have sent 80 relievers onto the diamond on the year. Their relief pitchers have come in 38 times in high leverage situations and on 22 occasions with base runners. Tampa Bay relievers have an inherited score percentage of 25.9% out of 27 inherited base runners. Sitting with 34 save situations, the Rays have recorded 19 holds in addition to 6 blown saves.

In 2,118 innings on the field, the Rays have a defensive efficiency of 70.4% (15th in baseball). The Tampa Bay Rays have turned 23 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .989 (5th in pro baseball). The Rays have racked up 225 assists, 10 errors and have amassed 706 putouts this year.

During his career, Wacha has given up 917 base hits while he has accumulated 819 strikeouts in 927 innings pitched. Wacha (61-44 career record) has earned a 4.01 ERA while conceding 8.9 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered a total of 413 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.330 and a FIP of 4.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.59 and he has faced 3,952 batters so far in his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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