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Astros Eye Clincher vs Rays

Magic Number of One for Houston to Claim AL West Crown

The Tampa Bay Rays try to bounce back from a difficult loss when they take on the Houston Astros in the second of a three-game series on Wednesday night. The contest is scheduled for an 8:10 p.m. ET first pitch at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Houston’s series-opening win ended a four-game losing streak and put it within a victory of clinching the American League West title. The Astros are 92-65 and atop the division standings, leading the second-place Seattle Mariners by 4½ games with five to play. The Astros will also clinch with another loss by Seattle.

Luis Garcia of the Houston Astros pitches against the Los Angeles Angels
John McCoy/Getty Images/AFP

The Rays had a four-game winning streak snapped with a loss in the opening game of the series. Tampa Bay is 97-60 and has clinched the AL East title, leading the second-place New York Yankees by seven games.

If you want to bet online on this game, the MLB lines have the Astros with a moneyline of -125, while the Rays are listed at +115, with the over/under set at nine runs.

On a Roll

The Rays will try to even the series with right-hander Drew Rasmussen on the mound. The 26-year-old is 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA, appearing in 34 games and starting nine times while splitting time between Milwaukee and Tampa Bay.

Rasmussen has all of his starts with the Rays and he’s really been good this month, going 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA. He’s coming off a no-decision against Toronto on Sept. 21, going five innings and allowing two runs on four hits, including a home run.

Tampa Bay is looking to bounce back from a 4-3 loss in the series opener that saw it issue two bases-loaded walks in the bottom of the ninth. Outfielder Randy Arozarena had put the Rays on top in the top of the ninth with a solo home run.

Arozarena, the star of Tampa Bay’s run to the World Series last season, hit just his second home run of September and first since Sept. 4. He has 20 homers along with 69 RBIs and 91 runs scored.

Needed Win

The Astros weren’t in great danger of losing their division lead, but after dropping four in a row, the team was in need of a win to get some momentum going into next week’s playoffs. They got it with a ninth inning that has them thinking of a division-clinching party on Wednesday night.

“We needed this one,” Houston second baseman Jose Altuve said after Tuesday’s win. “We needed to create some momentum … to put those games in the past and start winning.”

Altuve had a home run in the win, his second in four games. In September, Altuve is batting .295 with 10 doubles, six home runs, 14 RBIs and 25 runs scored.

Third baseman Alex Bregman also homered for the second straight game. He has four this month along with a .293 batting average after returning to the lineup in late August after two months on the injured list.

Right-hander Luis Garcia will get the start for Wednesday’s contest. The 24-year-old is 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA and he’s gone 6-4 with a 2.19 ERA at home.

Garcia is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in four starts this month. His last outing was a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 22, as he threw six scoreless innings and allowed just three hits in a 12-inning Astros victory.

Houston to Clinch Title

The Rays really don’t have much to play for while Houston wants to build some momentum. Granted, Tampa Bay won’t just roll over against a team it could face in the postseason, but the Astros should come out on top in this one.

When doing your MLB picks, take Houston to win at home.

Pick: Houston Astros -125

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