Rays vs Astros predictions
Coming off one of his best games yet, Junior Caminero is about as hot as it gets at the plate for the Tampa Bay Rays. If you watched him rack up four hits in his last outing, you know he’s seeing the ball really well right now. I’d expect Caminero to keep that swing locked in at Daikin Park, maybe knocking in another RBI or two and picking up a couple more hits. Jonathan Aranda has been steady all season—don’t be surprised if he delivers a clutch single or a well-placed double to keep the Rays’ offense moving. On the mound, Taj Bradley will be looking to hold off Houston’s lineup; if he gets his pitches working early, he could go into the sixth with a solid strikeout total, though the Astros lineup will make him work for every out.
Over on the Houston Astros’ side, watch for Jeremy Pena and Jose Altuve to set the tone at the top of the order. Pena’s been flirting with .300 and just seems to find ways to get on base, so I wouldn’t be shocked if he tallies another multi-hit effort. And Altuve? He’s capable of changing a game with one swing or a well-timed base knock. Behind them, Isaac Paredes has real power—he could easily send a ball into the seats if Bradley catches too much of the plate. As for pitching, Hunter Brown will have the tough task of taming Tampa Bay’s lineup, but if he can get ahead in counts and flash his strikeout stuff, he’s got a legit shot to deliver a quality outing with a handful of punchouts.
So, who’s got the edge? When you stack up the starting pitchers and those key bats, it feels like Houston might have the slight upper hand playing at home, where they’ve been solid all season. The Rays bring speed (just look at their stolen base numbers!) and plenty of pop, but the Astros’ combo of contact hitters and power threats could be too much over nine innings. This one should be close, but I’m leaning toward the Houston Astros to come out on top, especially if Hunter Brown settles in early. What do you think—is this matchup as even as it looks, or is there a sleeper factor waiting to break it open?
