Tampa Bay could be starting to get a complex heading into the Astros vs Rays game 6 betting matchup. Kevin Cash’s team had went up 3-0 in the American League Championship series, but Houston has shown the heart of a champion in saving their season on back-to-back days with a couple of 4-3 wins.
The Rays will once again look to punch their ticket back to the World Series for the first time since 2008 with a win on Friday afternoon (6:07 PM ET, TBS). Oddsmakers have Tampa Bay as -135 favorites with Blake Snell on the mound. Houston goes with Framber Valdez with some value as +115 underdogs. All five games this series have gone under the total, which is 8 for Astros vs Rays game 6 betting.
Can Astros Keep It Going?
A Carlos Correa home run in the bottom of the 9th propelled Houston to their second straight 4-3 win and closed the deficit in the ALCS to 3-2. The Astros still have some work to do, especially against Snell, but do have some momentum coming into Friday afternoon’s game.
Houston faced Snell in the opener of the series, posting a first inning Jose Altuve HR for their only run of the game in a 2-1 loss. Altuve is 7-17 this series with 3 HR, but the Rays limited his effectiveness on Thursday with two walks. Snell struck out just two Astros batters in six innings of work in game one, but still held Houston to their worst offensive output of the postseason.
The Houston offense as a whole has been held in check by Tampa Bay pitching in this ALCS. The Astros have scored 13 runs in five games, after plating 33 in four games in the ALDS vs. Oakland. Framber Valdez didn’t get any run support when he took the mound in the opener, holding Tampa Bay to 2 ER and 4 hits over 6.0 IP (8 K’s), but still taking the loss. The left-hander has allowed 2 ER or less in five straight starts dating back to the regular season.
Rays Looking for a Closeout
Tampa Bay has been close to ending this series the last two games, but couldn’t battle back against Zack Greinke in game four and gave up the big hit to Correa in game five. The Rays are in a nice spot with Snell on the mound Friday afternoon, but things get real interesting if Houston is able to force a game 7 on Saturday. The Rays definitely want to end things in Game 6.
Snell was great in game one, allowing just the Altuve HR in six innings of work. The Yankees got to the left-hander in his start in the ALDS though, tallying 4 ER in 5.0 IP powered by three HRs. Houston can hit the long ball, as George Springer has gone deep in each of the last two games and Altuve has a HR in three of the five games. Can the Astros get to Snell their second time through?
Randy Arozarena continues to power the Rays offense with his 3rd home run of the series on Thursday. Tampa Bay scored all three of their runs on solo HRs, showing an inability to manufacture runs against Houston pitching. The Rays managed to scratch just 4 hits against Valdez in game one, is there any way the offense improves on Friday?
Astros vs Rays Game 6 Betting Free Pick
Houston is in survival mode, and this side is tough to call with two solid pitchers on the mound. Therefore there’s no reason to expect the first high scoring game of the season, so ride the under which has hit in all five games this series.
Rays 3 – Astros 2
Free Pick: Under 8
