The Houston Astros take on the Texas Rangers. Check out our MLB odds series for our Astros Rangers prediction and pick.

Cristian Javier gets the start for the Astros, while Taylor Hearn gets the call for the Rangers.

Cristian Javier has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his 11 appearances for Houston this season. That's the good news. The bad news is that he allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings in his most recent start last week against the Mariners. Javiere has a solid 3.22 ERA, but he has pitched six full innings only once this season; he does not go deep into games, which raises the question of whether he will be durable enough to remain a dependable back-end rotation starter for the Astros throughout the 2022 season. It could be that last week's debacle against the Mariners was a blip on the radar screen and nothing more, but as he accumulates more starts, Javier will need to prove to Dusty Baker that he can be trusted with this spot in the rotation.

Taylor Hearn has a 5.40 ERA. He generally doesn't overpower hitters, averaging four strikeouts per start in 11 total starts this season. Hearn has also walked at least three hitters in five of his 11 starts. That is simply too many free bases given to opponents. In 50 innings pitched, Hearn has allowed 58 hits. He simply doesn't have wipeout-level stuff, and he allows far too many baserunners. As a result, Hearn has given up at least three runs in eight of his last 10 starts. Giving up three runs and failing to finish five full innings puts way too much strain on the Texas bullpen.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Astros-Rangers MLB odds.

MLB Odds: Astros-Rangers Odds

Houston Astros: -1.5 (+105)

Texas Rangers: +1.5 (-126)

Over: 9 (-110)

Under: 9 (-110)

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Why The Astros Could Cover the Spread

The Astros haven't played good baseball lately. They lost consecutive series at home to the Mariners and Marlins, a very disappointing week for the defending American League champions. Houston is not playing like a team which will scare anyone in the playoffs, including and especially the New York Yankees, who easily look like the class of the league right now. The Astros are too good to remain this mediocre. They are comfortably in first place in the American League West, which might be the cause of their lack of urgency. However, champions establish a high standard, and the Astros know they need to be a much better if they want to contend for a title. They know they need to start this series in Arlington on the right foot. The fact that they face Taylor Hearn, a mediocre starting pitcher, should help them in this matchup.

Why The Rangers Could Cover the Spread

After winning a wild game on Sunday against the White Sox in Chicago, the Rangers showed that they are capable of winning important games. That contest on Sunday really mattered in the cluttered race for an American League wild card spot. The fourth and fifth spots are locked down by the Rays and Blue Jays, but that sixth and final spot is wide open, and the Rangers are still in the hunt. Cristian Javier will not scare them, and neither will the Astros, who have struggled over the past week and are drifting along without playing anywhere close to the level they expect from themselves.

Final Astros-Rangers Prediction & Pick

The Rangers have been better over the past month, but the Astros are unlikely to lose a third straight series. That means they are very likely to win this game, the start of a three-game set in Arlington.

Final Astros-Rangers Prediction & Pick: Astros -1.5