Ironically enough Houston may be an even better team in 2018 than last year. Coming off an inspiring World Series win in 2017 the Astros are loaded for more. Houston will be a consistent favorite to bet on MLB games with. Pitching is where it all begins for the Astros. Arguably they boast the best staff in the game. Starting pitching gets them off to great starts nearly every game. Conversely the Texas Rangers are perennially poor on the mound. For 2018 they may be worse than ever on the hill. Houston hosts Texas on ESPN Sunday.
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros
Date and Time: Sunday, April 15, 2018, 8:08 p.m. ET
Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Baseball Betting Online Odds at SBG: Click here!
Rangers vs. Astros TV coverage: ESPN
Clash of the Pitchers
Right hander Bartolo Colon is the scheduled Texas starter. Houston was undecided. Colon was impressive in his first three starts. Aged 44 he posted a 1.64 ERA and 1.00 WHIP for a great beginning. Regardless of who starts for the Astros it should be a quality outing. Houston’s rotation ranked best for ERA to start the 2018 campaign. Adding to that is a bullpen ranked sixth best in Major League Baseball. In contrast the Rangers bullpen ranks 18th. Texas has long had a subpar staff of hurlers. Currently they rank 26th in MLB for ERA.
Texas
Despite poor pitching Texas has usually had great hitting. However, that has not been the case so far this year. Ranking 26th in MLB for run production is a new low for the Rangers. And there is no sign of immediate improvement. When you combine the poor hitting with the terrible pitching red ink flows. Thus, Texas is highly undesirable to bet on MLB games with. Declining production over the past few seasons was a portent of things to come. The road back for the Rangers will be long and painful.
Houston
Offensively the Astros have just enough to complement their stellar pitching. While not dominant their hitting is timely. Leading the lineup is Jose Altuve. The second baseman is averaging .370 with seven runs and three RBI. Power has come from Josh Reddick with three round trippers. Reddick also had an OPS of 1.137. Shortstop Carlos Correa led Houston with nine RBI. No middle infield combo is better than Altuve and Correa. Not that long ago Texas ruled the state in baseball. Now the tables have been turned.
Team vs Team
Houston has dominated the Rangers in this online sportsbook series. Texas has lost seven of their last eight games with the Astros. Five of the last seven between these teams went over the total. Minute Maid Park has seen Houston pay in five of their last eight against Texas. Four of the last six at Houston in this series went over the number.
Matchup to Watch
This is a mismatch to bet on MLB games with. Long term there is no comparison between the Rangers and Astros. Pitching still remains the difference maker in baseball. Between these teams Houston has the dominant hurlers. Matchup wise they hold all the top cards vs. Texas.
Rangers vs. Astros Betting Odds Picks
Despite what will be a high price Houston is the call!
Baseball Betting Online Pick: Houston Astros
Baseball Betting Online Score Prediction: Astros 6, Rangers 2