A pair of American League teams on the right side of the playoff cut line continue a series on the diamond in the Sunshine State. The Houston Astros are on the road as they play the middle game of a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday evening. Houston took three of four at home from Oakland over the weekend as they rolled to an 11-2 victory in the finale of that set Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay won the rubber game of their three-game home set with the Rangers, winning 5-3 Sunday afternoon. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the series opener at Tropicana Field Monday night.
Houston won for the ninth time in their last 11 games as they drubbed the A’s at home in the finale of that set Sunday afternoon. The Astros entered Monday with a 15-game lead over the Mariners for the top spot in the AL West, leaving them with a magic number of two. They are 7.5 games ahead of the Yankees for the AL’s top record and home field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. On Sunday, Houston got four hits from Martin Maldonado (four runs, four RBI), including his 13th homer of the year, while Jose Altuve (run) added three. Framber Valdez (16-5) earned the win with his MLB record 25th quality start of the year. He threw six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Cristian Javier is expected to take the mound for his 28th appearance and 23rd start of the season for the Astros here. He comes in 9-9 wi th a 2.87 ERA, a 0.995 WHIP, 46 walks and 173 strikeouts over 131.2 innings of work on the year. Javier earned the win in his last start, which came Wednesday on the road against the Tigers. He threw six innings, allowing no runs on two hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in a 2-1 Astros triumph. In his last three starts, Javier is 2-0 with a 2.20 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, five walks and 23 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of action. Javier didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career start against the Rays, which came on the road on May 2, 2021. He threw five innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in a game the Astros eventually lost 5-4. That outing at least gives Javier a passing familiarity with Tropicana Field.