Astros at Rays 3/29/19 - MLB Picks & Predictions

Tropicana Field will play host to a Friday night MLB clash between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays. On Opening Day, Houston connected on three home runs during a 5-1 victory. George Springer’s three-run blast put the Astros ahead for good. SP Justin Verlander struck out nine batters and allowed one run over seven frames to earn the victory.

Twenty-eight year old righty Gerrit Cole (15-5 2.88 ERA) will head to the hill for the Astros in this matchup. Cole owns a career 1.18 WHIP and has struck out 1010 batters through 982 plus innings of work. The Tampa Bay Rays started last season off by losing 13 of their first 17 games, before rallying to win 92 games overall. On Thursday, Tampa Bay OF Austin Meadows got the scoring going with a first inning solo shot, but the team would manage just three hits after that. Reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell was tagged for five runs in six innings.

Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton (15-3 3.13 ERA) will face his former team on Friday. In his career, Morton is six games below .500 and owns a 1.37 WHIP.