Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Houston Astros by 2Alright, alright, let's dive into this heavyweight clash between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros, taking place at the neutral-doesn't-play-favorites Minute Maid Park in Houston. Ah, the sweet smell of corn dogs and capitalism.
As we cast an eyeball over the pitchers, we've got Zack Littell for the Rays -- initially impressive with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP over the course of 11 appearances. For the Astros, we're looking at Colton Gordon. Bit of a shaky start for him with a 5.70 ERA but a decent strikeout rate.
Our top men for the Rays, without a doubt, are the infernal Lowe brothers. Brandon was swinging a solid .278 batting average with 15 RBIs and 7 homers, while Josh can also hold his own with a .286 average and a couple of homers. Jonathan Aranda too makes an appearance with a .333 batting average and 18 RBIs.
As for the Astros, Jeremy Pena is showing off a nice .330 average with a side of 16 RBIs and four dingers. Jake Meyers is hot on his tail, while the home run king is Isaac Paredes with seven firecrackers under his belt.
Peeking at their recent past, some might call it a draw. They traded blows, won a couple, cried in the locker room... usual stuff. But the regular season record is a different beast with the Astros slightly inching ahead with 30 wins to 26 losses as compared to the Rays’ 29-27 showing.
Ever heard about home turf advantage? Oh, it’s real my friends. And in this case, Houston has had the best corn dogs. But, hey, wouldn't it be deliciously ironic if the Rays shone bright?
Without further ado, here's a prediction based on nothing but my charming intuition and some interesting numbers:
Albert’s Prediction: Houston Astros by 2