Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 5/18/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers

Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: Rangers Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (+125) Texas (-150)

The Houston Astros (22-21) are traveling to Globe Life Field on Sunday where they will take on the Texas Rangers (24-21). The odds on this game have Houston at +125 and Texas is coming in at -150. The betting total comes in at 8. The pitchers taking the mound are Ryan Gusto and Jack Leiter.

The Astros have tallied 64 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 36 balls out of the park. Houston is slugging .377 and have been rung up 339 times, while being walked on 137 occasions. As a squad, the Houston Astros are recording 4.1 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 20th in MLB. They have 165 runs batted in as well as 354 hits so far this season, while their batting average sits at .249. They have racked up 174 runs while holding a team OBP of .320.

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The Astros are sitting with a team ERA of 3.41 on the year (7th in MLB), and their staff has rung up 399 batters. Astros pitchers have surrendered 38 long balls in addition to 154 total runs (4th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 131 opposing players and their FIP is 3.43 as a unit this season. Houston has given up 296 base hits (7.1 per 9 innings) and also 143 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 3.05 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.13.

Astros relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on 31 times in addition to having 31 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have 26 holds so far this season (13th in MLB). The Astros relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 73.3% and have entered the game in 41 save situations. They have compiled 11 saves this year and have blown 4 of 15 chances to save the game. The relievers have inherited 46 base runners this year with 34.8% of those players crossed home plate. The Astros have sent 133 relievers to the hill for the season.

The Astros have converted 72.4% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 3,399 innings on the field, which has them ranked 5th in professional baseball. The Detroit Tigers have amassed 1,133 putouts this year, in addition to 322 assists and 14 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .990 which is 1st in MLB, and they have turned 24 double plays.

Gusto has taken the hill for 30 innings and has 31 strikeouts in his career. Gusto (3-2 career win-loss record) has earned a FIP of 4.73 while he has faced 135 hitters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 4.80 (16 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.500. He has given up 34 base knocks (10.2 hits per 9 innings) and has 11 walks.

The Rangers have a team slugging percentage of .372 and they average 3.44 runs per outing (26th in baseball). They have hit 57 two-baggers, while getting a free base 114 times and putting up 155 runs. Texas has 47 home runs this season and 152 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 349 occasions (20th in the league) and have earned 334 hits. The Texas Rangers hold a team on-base percentage of .291 and a batting average of .230 on the campaign.

The Rangers have a team WHIP of 1.130 in addition to having a FIP of 3.47 as a pitching staff so far this season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.20 (359 strikeouts against 118 walks). They are currently ranked 5th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 326. They have allowed 36 HR's and they relinquish 3.53 runs per 9 innings (3rd in the league). The Texas pitching staff have relinquished 154 runs so far this season while having a team ERA of 3.21 (140 earned runs yielded).

Sitting with 50 save situations, the Rangers have earned 29 holds in addition to 5 blown saves. Texas has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 19 save chances and they have earned 14 saves. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 44 times in high leverage situations in addition to 42 occasions with runners on base. Texas bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 29.9% out of 67 inherited runners. They sit at 5th in MLB holding a save rate of 73.7%, and they have sent 136 bullpen pitchers to the hill on the campaign.

In their 3,537 innings on the field, the Rangers hold a defensive efficiency of 71.8% (7th in the majors). The Texas Rangers have gotten 37 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .989 (6th in the majors). The Rangers have accrued 400 assists, 18 errors and are sitting with 1,179 putouts on the season.

Thus far in his career, Leiter has conceded 65 base hits while he has tallied 54 punch outs in 64 innings pitched. He has given up a total of 49 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.495 and having a FIP of 6.8. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.74 and he has faced 294 opposing batters in his career. Leiter (3-5 mark in his career) has a 6.87 ERA and has conceded 9.1 hits per 9 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (+125)

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