ASTROS-RAYS PREVIEW

Astros aim to keep streak alive with Framber at the helm against Rays

Astros aim to keep streak alive with Framber at the helm against Rays
The Astros face the Rays Monday night in St. Petersburg. Composite Getty Image.

Houston Astros (62-55, first in the AL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (59-58, fourth in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Monday, 6:50 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Framber Valdez (11-5, 3.46 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 113 strikeouts); Rays: Taj Bradley (6-6, 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 106 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -121, Rays +102; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros aim to keep their five-game win streak going when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa Bay is 31-31 at home and 59-58 overall. The Rays have a 17-7 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.

Houston has a 30-29 record in road games and a 62-55 record overall. The Astros are 27-12 in games when they did not allow a home run.

The teams meet Monday for the fourth time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yandy Diaz has 23 doubles, a triple and 10 home runs while hitting .271 for the Rays. Brandon Lowe is 10-for-42 with three doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.

Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 54 extra base hits (27 doubles, two triples and 25 home runs). Alex Bregman is 15-for-43 with four doubles, three home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 4-6, .228 batting average, 3.52 ERA, outscored by five runs

Astros: 7-3, .257 batting average, 3.09 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 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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Who you got, Alex Bregman or Yusei Kikuchi? Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images.

The Astros will have multiple big free agents hit the market this offseason, and are unlikely to sign everyone. So ESPN Houston's Joel Blank and Jeremy Branham debated, if you can only sign one, would you re-sign Alex Bregman or Yusei Kikuchi?

Check out the video above for the full discussion.

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