Game: Tampa Bay Rays @ Houston Astros
Time: 8:10 p.m.
Odds: Rays -115, Astros -105
Total: 8.5
With Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez returning from injuries on Wednesday and ace Framber Valdez taking the mound for the final game of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, all indications were that the Houston Astros would successfully complete their ascent to the top of the American League West standings.
The Astros were set to host the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday, but instead of sweeping the Rangers and tying Texas for first place in the division, they suffered a 13-5 loss on Wednesday.
For the Astros on Friday, right-hander Cristian Javier (7-2, 4.32 ERA) will get the start. Last Saturday against the Oakland Athletics, he went 5.2 innings, gave up two runs on one hit, struck out five batters, tied a career-high with six walks, and was given the loss in a 4-1 defeat. Javier is 0-1 with a 7.52 ERA over his last seven starts. He has given up 17 walks, and an opponent OPS of .861 across 32.1 innings since winning five straight starts from May 10 to June 3.
Over the course of three career starts against Tampa Bay, Javier is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA. In his final regular-season start at Tampa Bay last year, he threw six scoreless innings while giving up just two hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts to earn a 2-1 victory.
The Rays’ left-hander Shane McClanahan (11-1, 2.89 ERA) will start the first game of the series. McClanahan gave up five runs on five hits in his last start. He wasn’t as effective as he had been with three walks and just five strikeouts over four innings as the Rays fell to the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 in his last start last Saturday.
For the first three innings of that game, McClanahan held Baltimore without a hit before giving up five runs in the fourth. He has pitched to a 7.02 ERA in his last four starts. He has not involved in the decision in any of those four and Tampa Bay lost three of the four games. In two career starts against the Astros, both of which came late in the previous season, McClanahan is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA. Over nine innings, he has walked five while striking out five.
On Wednesday, the Rays continued their recent slump by losing 7-1 to the Miami Marlins, capping off a 2-4 homestand. Tampa Bay has lost eight of its last ten games. The Rays are 1-5-1 in their last seven series and have a record of 5-15 in July.
The Rays, who were once 6.5 games ahead of the Orioles in the AL East, will begin a 10-day, nine-game road trip on Friday. They begin the trip trailing Baltimore by 1.5 games.
A day after infielder Yandy Diaz left the game early due to left groin tightness, the Rays lost right-hander Zach Eflin to left knee discomfort on Wednesday, compounding their problems. Earlier in the homestand, Tampa Bay suffered injuries to infielder Taylor Walls (left oblique) and catcher Francisco Mejia (left knee).
Join Oskeim Sports today and save 20% on your first purchase at the online store!