BLANCO ON THE HILL
Critical factors to watch as Astros seek to extend win streak in finale versus Rays
Aug 14, 2024, 11:08 am
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)
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.