Rays vs Astros Pick: Struggling Baz Faces Rookie Gusto (May 29)

• Our Rays vs Astros pick looks at Tampa Bay starting struggling righty Shane Baz against Houston’s rookie swingman Ryan Gusto
• Tampa is hovering around .500 and is in 2nd place in the AL East, ahead of its bigger money rivals, the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Orioles
• Houston is right behind the Mariners in the AL West

Rays’ Baz Hopes to Build on Solid Start Against Blue Jays

Despite playing its home games at the Yankees’ spring training site and again functioning with questions about whether they can even stay in Tampa, the Rays are again hovering around .500 and have a shot at making the MLB playoffs. In the first game of their 4-game set in Houston, veteran Shane Baz takes the hill.

Baz has struggled for much of the season, having surrendered crooked numbers in four of his 10 starts this season. In his last start, however, he threw 5.2 innings against the Blue Jays, gave up 4 hits and 1 earned run.

He has been vulnerable to the home run ball this season, having given up 10 so far.

For the Astros, Jeremy Peña is 3 for 6 against Baz with a double and a home run. Yainer Diaz is 2 for 5 with 2 singles. Jose Altuve is 0 for 7. Jake Meyers is 1 for 4 with a single.

Apart from Jonathan Aranda, having an All-Star season with an OPS approaching .900, the Rays have struggled at the plate. Lowe is in double digits in home runs. Their bullpen has been solid, as always.

Gusto Has Been a Flexible Arm for Houston

Ryan Gusto is big (6’4″, 230) and flexible for the Astros. The rookie has been used as both a starter and a reliever and has been serviceable in both roles. Two starts ago against the Royals, he threw 2.1 innings and gave up 7 earned runs. His last start, however, was against the Mariners, where he pitched 4.1 innings, gave up 4 hits, and 2 earned runs.

Gusto has never faced the Rays.

Altuve has been hot, raising his batting average by 25 points in the past week. Isaac Paredes has been tremendous with an OPS of around .850. Meyers has an OPS hovering around .770. Houston’s bullpen has been brilliant with its four key arms — Josh Hader, Steven Okert, Bryan Abreu, and Bryan King — all have ERAs below 2.

Rays vs Astros Pick: Houston Will Put Baz Back on His Heels

Baz has been so inconsistent this year and very hittable when he’s not on his game that the Astros should knock him around the park. Gusto is not expected to give the Astros more than 4-5 innings, then they will hand it over to their superlative bullpen to take the first game of this series.