Rangers vs Astros Odds: Can Houston Turn Things Around?

Astros Are Stuck In AL West Cellar

There is a long way to go in the 2024 MLB season but the Houston Astros, currently sitting at 4-10 with the worst record in the American League West, have to get things going soon. They have a great opportunity to start that turnaround this weekend against the division rival Texas Rangers (7-6) in a three-game set between the two most-recent World Series winners. The Rangers vs Astros odds like Houston’s chances to get off the schneid, at least in Friday’s opening game.

Houston was just swept in a fairly one-sided fashion by the red-hot Kansas City Royals, who dropped double-digit runs on the Astros in Wednesday and Thursday’s games. The starting pitching has been wildly inconsistent for Houston, which is waiting on the returns of Justin Verlander, Luis García, José Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr. from injury and just lost Framber Valdez to elbow inflammation. It has been tough sledding for a team that didn’t think they needed to add MLB free agents starting pitchers this offseason.

Texas hasn’t exactly gotten off to a great start and the Rangers are also dealing with a host of injuries of their own. The Rangers have lost four of five, dropping a three-game set this week to the lowly Oakland Athletics after splitting a four-game series with the Astros. Texas’ offense has been elite as usual — even without Josh Jung, who broke his wrist — but issues at the back-end of the rotation and the bullpen have cropped up. So, the Astros are -123 on the moneyline for Friday’s game (Texas is +113) and +150 on the run line at -1.5. The total is a high 9.5 runs.

Rangers logo Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Astros logo

Location: Minute Maid Park
Day/Time:

Astros Need Some Kind of Run Prevention

Even an offense as star-laden as that of the Astros needs a little bit of help from its starting pitchers. In Wednesday’s 11-2 loss, Spencer Arrighetti gave up seven runs in the 3rd inning of his MLB debut while, in Thursday’s 13-3 loss, Hunter Brown set an MLB record by allowing 11 hits and recording only two outs. By the time he left the game, the Royals already had a 9-0 lead. Obviously, you can’t win baseball games that way.

The good news for Houston is that the Astros’ probable pitchers for this weekend — J.P. France, Ronel Blanco, and Cristian Javier — have been part of the rotation that has worked so far this season. France has been serviceable, Blanco has given up only one hit in 15 innings and Javier has looked like an ace. The Rangers vs Astros odds have faith in Houston in large part due to these three guys not contributing to the Astros’ pitching woes.

If you’re making MLB bets today, it’s a good idea to take the Astros on the moneyline. Yes, they’ve been struggling but this is a talented roster that is much better than it has played. The worm is going to turn and Houston has the pitchers going this weekend that can help them do just that.

Who Will Close for Texas?

For the most part, the Rangers’ bullpen has been really good except for one (important) glaring exception: José Leclerc. Texas’ closer has been abysmal, boasting a 14.40 ERA. He has given up runs in four of his five outings, has blown one save and is responsible for two losses. It’s crazy to see him struggle this mightily after he was so good in the 2023 postseason in which he made a ridiculous 13 appearances in the Rangers’ 17 playoff games.

Leclerc had a 3.29 ERA across those 13 2/3 innings and has been nails since the start of the 2022 season. Texas isn’t going to take the closer job away from him just yet but Bruce Bochy may have to consider it if he continues to have trouble locking down games.

If any games of this series are close with Texas holding a late lead, it’ll be interesting to see if the Astros can get to Leclerc or if Bochy tries to maneuver his bullpen to avoid using him.

Time For Bregman and Abreu To Get Going

The Rangers vs Astros odds expect Houston to outscore Texas which won’t be able to happen unless some of the Astros’ core pieces get unclogged from slow starts. José Abreu — for the second-straight year — hasn’t hit at all in the early-going, as he’s just 3-for-37 with 13 strikeouts and only one walk. He has no extra base hits and a single RBI. For a guy who has always been a hit and run production machine, it’s more than concerning to see him this lost at the dish.

Alex Bregman hasn’t been nearly as bad but his OPS is .638 and he hasn’t hit a home run yet. Bregman is getting on base. However, the power isn’t there and Houston needs more than two RBIs from him as the Astros try to out-pace a pitching staff that isn’t doing it any favors. There are runs to be driven in with how good José Altuve, Yordan Álvarez, Jeremy Peña, and even Yainer Díaz continue to be.

For any MLB picks and parlays you may be taking today, consider taking the over 9.5 runs at even-money. France and Dane Dunning (Texas’ starter on Friday) have both been good but these teams have loaded lineups that are due to really break into stride. Friday could be a high-scoring one.

Rangers vs Astros Lines

For MLB predictions today, betting analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.


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