Go with Tampa Bay for your MLB picks this weekend

Interleague baseball is back and BetOnline Sportsbook has all of the analysis necessary for you to make you MLB picks on the second game of the series between the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Tampa Bay enters this series on fire, having won six straight games. The Rays have the second best offense and second most efficient pitching staff in baseball, and many are making comparisons between them and the 1998 New York Yankees which won 114 games in the regular season.

Meanwhile, Houston is struggling and struggling mightily. The ‘Stros are just 14-27 on the season and 9.5 games behind the pace in the NL Central. They’ve also lost six straight games and haven’t been favored in a contest since May 4th.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros

Game Date/Time: Saturday May 22nd, 7:05 ET
Game Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
TV/Radio Broadcast: Fox Sports Houston, Sun Sports, XM

RHP Jeff Niemann really has pitched incredibly well for manager Joe Maddon this year. He has yet to allow more than three runs in a start this year, and his six inning effort against Cleveland on May 17th marked the first time since his first start of the year that he failed to pitch at least 6.2 innings.

Niemann has thrown seven straight quality starts. All things told, he is 3-0 with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting .229 against him on the year.

The Rays have won six of Niemann’s L/7 starts. In that stretch, their MLB betting fans have made a stellar $396.

Niemann has never faced the Astros in his career.

The Astros just continue to struggle this year, and LHP Wandy Rodriguez is a big part of that. Once upon a time, Rodriguez was considered one of the great young up and coming arms in the bigs, but now at 31 years old, the southpaw is having a miserable time trying to contain opposing batters.

Rodriguez has allowed at least four runs in four straight starts and in five of his eight this year. His 14 walks in 46.0 innings of work is a lot higher than he is accustomed to, and a K/9 ratio of 5.28 is nowhere near the 8.44 from a year ago or the 7.40 for his career.

Rodriguez does have one start against the Rays in his career, as he pitched 5.2 innings and allowed two runs, earning a no-decision in 2008.

MLB Insider Tip: Tampa Bay is 19-7 in its L/26 games played away from Tropicana Field.

There’s a legitimate question about how long the Rays can keep this torrid pace up on the road, but there’s also no reason to get off of the bandwagon yet.

There has to be a bit of a level of concern for Tampa Bay backers, as it has never won a game in Houston and is only 1-5 all-time against the Astros. However, with Niemann hurling as well as he has this year, there’s no reason to not run with the Rays. Go with Tampa Bay for your MLB picks this weekend.

My MLB Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays (Niemann)