The Houston Astros (96-51) and Tampa Bay Rays (82-64) meet Monday at 6:40 p.m. ET to open a 3-game set at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Let's analyze Tipico Sportsbook's lines around the Astros vs. Rays odds'with'MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; Houston went 4-2 against Tampa Bay last season.
The Astros are 7-1 over their last 8 games, and they are 19-6 with a tidy 2.32 ERA since Aug. 21. Houston is back on the road after a brief 4-game home stand; it is 8-1 over its last 9 games away from Minute Maid Park.
The Rays have hustled their way to a 10-7 mark in September. Every win and loss has been key, as Tampa Bay is in a race for an American League wild-card slot. The Rays will look to leverage every last remaining game at home where they are 16-3 over their last 19 efforts.