Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions June 1st 2025

Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays June 1st 2025

The Rays travel to Houston to take on the Astros at Daikin Park. This game is set for Sunday, June 1, 2025, with a start time of 2:10 PM. Fans can catch the action on SCHN.

The Rays will have Taj Bradley on the mound. He has an ERA of 4.38 and a WHIP of 1.26. The Astros will counter with Hunter Brown, who holds an ERA of 2.00 and a WHIP of 0.92. The weather forecast predicts a warm day with a few clouds, but the retractable roof might keep conditions consistent inside the stadium.

Rays vs Astros Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: Rays vs. Astros
• Venue: Daikin Park in Houston, TX
• Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
• Betting Odds: Astros -203, Rays +170

The Rays Can Win If…

The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off a strong win against the Houston Astros, where they scored 16-3. Zack Littell pitched a complete game, allowing only three runs. Junior Caminero was a standout, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs.

The Rays’ offense has been effective this season, ranking first in stolen bases with 82. They also have 60 home runs, placing them in the top half of the league. Their pitching staff has a solid ERA of 3.54, which is seventh best, and they lead the league with 30 quality starts.

Junior Caminero is a key player for the Rays, leading the team in home runs and RBIs. Jonathan Aranda is also performing well with a .320 batting average. With a strong lineup and effective pitching, the Rays have the tools to secure another win against the Astros.

The Astros Can Win If…

The Houston Astros are coming off a tough loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, with a final score of 16-3. Despite the defeat, Jeremy Peña had a strong game, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs. Jose Altuve also added two hits, showing his ability to get on base.

Hunter Brown will be on the mound for the Astros in their next game. He has an impressive ERA of 2.00 and a WHIP of 0.92. His ability to limit base runners and keep runs off the board is a key factor for the Astros’ chances.

The Astros’ team stats show they have a solid batting lineup. They rank 6th in batting average with .255 and have hit 59 home runs this season. With players like Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña leading the charge, the Astros have the potential to put up runs against the Rays.

The Lean

The Astros are favored with a moneyline of -203, while the Rays sit at +170. The Astros have a better batting average and on-base percentage compared to the Rays. With their strong pitching and hitting stats, my model projects the Astros to win 5-3. The recommendation is to pick the Astros on the moneyline.

The current over/under line is set at 7.5. Both teams have solid pitching, but the Astros’ offense is slightly better. My model projects a total score of 8. Based on this, the recommendation is to take the over at 7.5 (-110).

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Astros Rest Alvarez, Turn to Hunter Brown in Finale vs. Rays

The Houston Astros will be without their star slugger Yordan Alvarez once again, but the mission remains the same—salvage a series split against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. The four-game showdown concludes at Minute Maid Park, with both clubs showing flashes of dominance through the first three matchups.

Houston is leaning on right-hander Hunter Brown to carry the load after a dominant outing earlier in the week. The stakes are high, especially with the team still treading water in the early playoff race and battling through injuries to key players.

Yordan Alvarez’s hand fracture delays return

Astros fans hoping for Yordan Alvarez’s return will have to wait a little longer. Despite ramping up baseball activities and facing live pitching for the first time in weeks, Alvarez experienced discomfort that led to a second MRI. The scan revealed a small, partially healed fracture in his right hand—missed in earlier imaging.

Though Alvarez won’t need surgery, he will pause all baseball activity until he’s fully healed. General manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada both expressed disappointment, but also relief that a definitive diagnosis was made.

“It’s not ideal,” Espada admitted. “We know how important he is to this team.”

Alvarez is batting just .210 in 29 games this season, a far cry from his career average of .295. But his power and presence in the middle of the lineup are sorely missed.

Hunter Brown aims to keep Astros rolling

If there’s a bright spot for Houston, it’s Hunter Brown. The 25-year-old righty has been one of the most effective pitchers in the American League this season, carrying a 7-3 record and a 2.00 ERA into Sunday’s matchup. His last start was textbook: six innings, one run, no walks, and eight strikeouts in an 11-1 thrashing of Oakland.

Brown leads the AL in quality starts and ranks top five in multiple pitching categories—including strikeouts, ERA, and opponents’ batting average. Against the Rays, he’s had mixed results: a 2-1 record with a 2.86 ERA overall, but he was rocked for three homers in a May 21 loss in Tampa.

Still, if Brown can command his fastball and limit long balls, the Astros have every reason to believe they can even the series.

Rays counter with streaky Taj Bradley

Tampa Bay will turn to right-hander Taj Bradley (4-4, 4.38 ERA) for the series finale. The 23-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t found much consistency, alternating wins and losses over his last six starts.

Bradley threw a solid game against Minnesota earlier in the week—seven innings, three runs (two earned), and six strikeouts—but took the loss. Against the Astros, he’s struggled in the past, posting a 7.71 ERA in four career starts. However, he showed improvement in a May 21 win over Houston, allowing just two runs over six innings.

The Rays will be looking for more of that version of Bradley in a game that could tilt either way.

Littell’s complete game caps Saturday blowout

In Game 3, Tampa Bay dominated behind an unlikely hero: Zack Littell. The right-hander tossed his first career complete game, needing just 117 pitches to shut down Houston in a 16-3 rout.

Littell’s effort extended Tampa’s streak of keeping pitch counts under 130 to eight straight games—tied for the longest run in the majors since 2007.

“They’ve limited runs really well,” Rays skipper Kevin Cash said of his rotation. “They’ve given us every opportunity.”

That performance gives the bullpen extra rest and puts the pressure back on Houston’s offense to respond.

FAQs

What is Yordan Alvarez’s injury status?
He has a small, partially healed fracture in his right hand and will rest until fully recovered. Surgery is not required.

How has Hunter Brown performed this season?
Brown is 7-3 with a 2.00 ERA and leads the AL in quality starts. He’s among the league leaders in several pitching stats.

When did Alvarez last play for the Astros?
He’s been sidelined since May 3 with hand inflammation and had hoped to return before the fracture was discovered.

How has Taj Bradley fared against the Astros?
He has a 7.71 ERA in four career starts vs. Houston but pitched well in a recent win over them on May 21.

What was notable about Saturday’s Rays win?
Zack Littell threw a complete game, and the Rays extended their club record of sub-130 pitch-count games to eight straight.

Will Alvarez need a rehab assignment before returning?
That depends on his recovery progress, but for now, the team is prioritizing rest and healing over a quick return.