Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 5/17/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers

Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: Rangers Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-152) Texas (+126)

The Texas Rangers (23-21) will go up against the Houston Astros (22-20) at Globe Life Field on Saturday. The odds on this game have Houston at -152 and Texas is coming in at +126. The over/under is set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Ronel Blanco and Tyler Mahle.

As a squad, the Houston Astros are notching 4.1 runs per contest, which has them at 16th in the league. They have racked up 174 runs scored and have an on-base percentage of .322. The Astros have hit 63 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 36 baseballs out of the stadium. They have amassed 165 runs batted in and 349 base knocks so far this year, while their team batting average sits at .251. Houston has a slugging percentage of .381 and have been called out on strikes 332 times, while drawing a walk on 135 occasions.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.98 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.15. Astros pitchers have given up 37 home runs and 153 total runs (4th in MLB). Houston has yielded 293 base hits (7.1 per 9 innings) and 142 earned runs. The Astros have compiled a team earned run average of 3.46 for the season (7th in MLB), and their staff has rung up 390 hitters. They have walked 131 opposing batters and their FIP is 3.46 as a squad on the year.

The Astros have dispatched 133 relief pitchers to the hill so far this year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 46 runners for the season and 34.8% of those players ended up scoring. They have recorded 11 saves on the season and have blown 4 out of their 15 chances to get a save. The Astros relief pitchers have accumulated a save percentage of 73.3% and have entered the game in 41 save situations. The relievers have earned 26 holds on the year (13th in the league). Astros bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with runners on 31 times in addition to having 31 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Detroit Tigers have earned 1,109 putouts this season, as well as 318 assists and 14 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .990 which has them sitting 1st in the majors, and they have turned 24 double plays. The Astros have converted 72.1% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 3,327 innings, which has them ranked 5th in pro baseball.

Blanco (18-10 career record) sits with a FIP of 3.38 and he has gone up against 1,107 opposing hitters in the majors. He has allowed 203 base hits (6.8 hits per 9 innings) and has had 117 walks. His ERA is 3.43 (102 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.197. Blanco has taken the hill for 267 frames and is sitting with 268 K's during his career.

The Rangers have a team slugging % of .375 and they are scoring 3.50 runs per contest (26th in MLB). They have notched 56 doubles, while getting a free base 114 times and putting up 154 runs. Texas has tallied 46 long balls this season and 151 runs batted in. They have struck out on 340 occasions (23rd in MLB) and have 332 hits. The Texas Rangers have a team on-base percentage of .295 in addition to a batting average of .233 so far this season.

The Rangers have a WHIP of 1.138 with a FIP of 3.51 as a pitching staff on the season. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.30 (352 strikeouts vs 116 free passes). They have a ranking of 4th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 321. They have conceded 36 home runs and they concede 3.61 runs per 9 innings (4th in the league). The Texas pitching staff have given up 154 runs this year while having a team ERA of 3.28 (140 earned runs conceded).

Texas relievers have an inherited score percentage of 29.9% of 67 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 43 times in high leverage situations and on 42 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 49 save situations, the Rangers have earned 29 holds and 5 blown saves. They sit at 6th in the league with a save percentage of 72.2%, and they have dispatched 135 relievers onto the diamond on the year. Texas has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 18 save opportunities and they have come away with 13 saves.

In their 3,456 innings played, the Rangers are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 71.7% (7th in baseball). The Texas Rangers have gotten 37 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .989 (5th in MLB). The Rangers have racked up 392 assists, 17 errors and have a tally of 1,152 putouts for the year.

So far in his MLB career, Mahle has allowed 643 hits and he has 724 strikeouts in 697 innings. Mahle (37-43 win-loss record in his career) holds a 4.12 earned run average while allowing 8.3 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered a total of 319 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.282 and having a FIP of 4.1. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.88 and he has gone up against 2,965 batters during his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (-152)

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