The Houston Astros are set to travel to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, Florida for an AL matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays in what will be opening day for the 2019 season. The Houston Astros ended the 2018 regular season with a 103-59 record, but they eventually lost to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, 4-1. The Houston Astros will return their HR and RBI leader from 2018 in Alex Bregman as he contributed 31 HRs and 103 RBIs. The Houston Astros brought in Robinson Chirinos to take over the starting catcher role after contributing 18 HRs and 65 RBIs in 2018 with the Texas Rangers.
The Houston Astros will start Justin Verlander who went 16-9 with a 2.52 ERA which also resulted in an all-star appearance during the 2018 season. Justin Verlander went 0-1 in 2 starts against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 while also posting a 4.63 ERA. The Tampa Bay Rays ended the 2018 regular season with a 90-72 record which resulted in a 3rd place finish in the AL East. The Tampa Bay Rays will be without their 2018 HR and RBI leader C.J. Cron (30 HRs & 74 RBIs) as he departed for the Minnesota Twins. The Tampa Bay Rays are hoping Tommy Pham can fill the void as he contributed 21 HRs and 63 RBIs while splitting time in St. Louis and Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Rays will start Blake Snell who went 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA which resulted in an all-star appearance during the 2018 season. Blake Snell went 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in his 2 starts against the Houston Astros in 2018.
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The Houston Astros are a serious World Series contender as they return almost all of their 2018 team which won 103 games. Justin Verlander has revived his career in Houston as he looked to be aging in Detroit, and we have seen the Astros rally as a team when the veteran is on the mound. Blake Snell is a great pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, but it is hard to trust the bats for this young team as they don’t have very many proven hitters. The Astros sluggers will find success in Tropicana Field as it is one of the easier ballparks in America to hit HRs. Houston wins, 3-1.
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