Critical factors to watch as Astros seek to extend win streak in finale versus Rays
BLANCO ON THE HILL
14 August 2024
Ronel Blanco takes the bump for Houston. Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images.
Houston Astros (64-55, first in the AL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (59-60, fourth in the AL East)
St. Petersburg, Florida; Wednesday, 6:50 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.02 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 126 strikeouts); Rays: Zack Littell (5-8, 4.11 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 113 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -122, Rays +102; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros are looking to keep a seven-game win streak intact when they play the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tampa Bay has a 31-33 record at home and a 59-60 record overall. The Rays have gone 35-7 in games when they scored at least five runs.
Houston is 64-55 overall and 32-29 in road games. Astros hitters have a collective .321 on-base percentage, the fourth-ranked percentage in the AL.
The teams meet Wednesday for the sixth time this season. The Astros lead the season series 3-2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Christopher Morel has seven doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 53 RBI while hitting .190 for the Rays. Josh Lowe is 9-for-28 with three doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.
Jose Altuve has 21 doubles and 15 home runs for the Astros. Alex Bregman is 16-for-45 with four doubles and five home runs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 4-6, .219 batting average, 3.58 ERA, outscored by six runs
Astros: 7-3, .264 batting average, 2.79 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs
INJURIES: Rays: Richard Palacios: 10-Day IL (knee), Ryan Pepiot: 15-Day IL (knee), Jacob Waguespack: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (forearm)
Astros: Kyle Tucker: 60-Day IL (shin), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Romy Gonzalez homered over the Green Monster on the first pitch faced by a Boston batter, Trevor Story added a two-run shot, and the Red Sox beat the Houston Astros 7-3 on Saturday.
Abraham Toro added a two-run drive — one of three homers the Red Sox hit over Fenway Park’s fabled left-field wall — and Story added an RBI double as Boston won its third straight.
Houston’s Christian Walker homered for the second straight day, a two-run shot off Walker Buehler in the first inning.
The benches and bullpens cleared when Astros reliever Héctor Neris yelled at the Red Sox dugout and third-base coach Kyle Hudson at the end of the seventh. But order was quickly restored.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
Benches clear in Boston after Hector Neris intentionally balked Trevor Story to third base because he thought Story was relaying signs. Neris had words for the Red Sox third base coach coming off the field pic.twitter.com/MxWccFu7F9
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 2, 2025
After beating the AL West leaders on Roman Anthony’s walk-off single in the series opener on Friday night, the Red Sox erased a quick 2-0 deficit when Story hit his drive in a three-run third against Colton Gordon (4-4) that pushed Boston ahead 4-2.
Story’s shot hit the top of a billboard over the Monster seats and bounced out of Fenway after Rob Refsnyder’s RBI single.
Justin Wilson (3-1) came on in the fifth inning with runners on second and third with Boston leading 6-3 and struck out the only two batters he faced. Aroldis Chapman got the final two outs for his 20th save.
Gordon gave up six runs in four-plus innings.
Key moment
The Astros loaded the bases in the eighth against Jordan Hicks, but Carlos Correa struck out looking on a 99 mph fastball.
Key stat
Boston’s bullpen went 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
Up next
Astros LHP Framber Valdez (11-4, 2.62 ERA) is set to face Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (7-2, 3.80) on Sunday in the series finale.
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