Rangers vs. Astros (May 19): Valdez, Astros to extend home win streak to nine

After being on fire throughout the first half of May, the Houston Astros were cooled off just a bit in Boston this week. But the AL West leaders are a good bet to get back in the win column tonight against the rival Rangers in their return to Minute Maid Park.

Since starting the season 7-9, the Astros are 17-5 and posted an 11-game win streak across the first two weeks of this month. That streak ended this past weekend on the road against the Washington Nationals, though they went on to win the series, their fourth straight series win.

But their series streak came to an end this week in Boston, as they dropped two of three against the Red Sox to close out a three-series, nine-game road trip.

Tonight, they are back in the friendly confines of Minute Maid Park to take on the Rangers, who they took three of four from last month in Arlington but make the trip to Houston with a four-game win streak.

Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Texas Rangers (17-19, 7-7 road, 3rd in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (24-14, 9-4 home, 1st in the AL West)
• Venue & Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, Texas)
• Date: Thursday, May 19, 2022
• Time: 8:10 p.m. Eastern Time (7:10 p.m. local time)
• How to Watch Today’s Rangers vs. Astros Game: Bally Sports Southwest (Rangers), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Astros), MLB Extra Innings (subscription package)

Rangers vs. Astros Pitching Matchup

• Texas Rangers: Glenn Otto (2022: 4 starts, 1-1, 6.38 ERA)
• Houston Astros: Framber Valdez (2022: 7 starts, 2-2, 2.93 ERA)

Rangers vs. Astros Odds

Odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other top reviewed and recommended sportsbooks may also be included in this article.

Moneyline

• Texas Rangers +188
• Houston Astros -225

Over/Under

• OVER 8 (-108)
• UNDER 8 (-112)

Run Line

• Texas Rangers +1.5 (-115)
• Houston Astros -1.5 (-104)

Expect More of the Same in Renewal of Lone Star State Rivalry?

When these two teams met at Globe Life Field late last month, all four games finished with eight or fewer runs. The highest-scoring game was the opener, which the Rangers won 6-2.

Valdez started for the Astros in that game, allowing one unearned run, four hits, and two walks in six innings. He left with a 2-1 lead and was in line for the win, but the Rangers scored two in the seventh and three in the eighth to pull out the win.

Since allowing six runs, eight hits, and four walks in a loss against the Los Angeles Angles on April 19, Valdez is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts, and all four starts have been quality starts.

In his career, Valdez is 3-2 with a 3.05 ERA in nine appearances (six starts) against the Rangers. At Minute Maid Park, he is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in four appearances (three starts), with 25 strikeouts and 10 hits, 11 walks, and four earned runs allowed in 25.1 innings.

Of Otto’s ten career MLB starts, more have come against the Astros than any other team. In those three starts, he is 0-1 with a 6.57 ERA.

But seven of the nine runs and seven of the 13 hits he has allowed against Houston came in one start last September in Arlington. In his lone start against the Astros this season, he allowed two runs, four hits, and two walks in 4.1 innings of a 4-3 loss on April 27.

Notable Over/Under Trends for Rangers vs. Astros

• In the 29 games in which the Astros have been a favorite this season, the under has hit 21 times.
• The under is 7-4-0 this season when the Astros have been a road favorite.
• The under is 11-6-0 in the Astros’ division games.
• In games following an Astros loss, the over is 9-4-0.

The under is also 8-6-0 in the Rangers’ road games and 7-5-0 when they have been an underdog on the road.

Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Prediction and Best Bets

Rangers vs. Astros Prediction: Astros to win

Rangers vs. Astros Best Bets: UNDER 8 (-106 at BetUS) & Rangers team total UNDER 3.5 runs (-137 at BetUS)

The opposing team has scored three or fewer runs in five of Valdez’s seven starts, and though the Rangers come in having scored 30 runs in their four-game win streak, all of those games were at home. On the road, they have scored just 15 runs in their last seven games.

Also, eight or fewer combined runs have been scored in nine of Houston’s home games thus far this season, including six of the last seven.

The bullpen let down Valdez–but not under bettors, as the total was 8.5 for that game–in his last start against the Rangers but has been mostly good otherwise, currently ranking second in the league (behind the New York Yankees entering today) with a 2.73 ERA. So, if he has to turn over a lead to the pen tonight, the odds are favorable that there won’t be a repeat of last time.

But if you want to have a little extra cushion and rule out a push if the total lands on eight again, you can grab the under 8.5 for -125 at BetUS, which is still solid value. And if you want extra, extra room to play with, the under 9 is available at -162.

That’s not a horrible price, but ultimately, you shouldn’t have to do that in order to come out a winner on the under for this matchup.

Other MLB Content on Betting News for Thursday, May 19

• Diamondbacks vs. Cubs 5/19 Prediction & Best Bets
• Mariners vs. Red Sox 5/19 Prediction & Best Bets