MLB matchup analysis

Astros vs Rays Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Sunday, September 13, 2026 at Tropicana Field · 1:40 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Astros vs Rays

Lab Rating
5.3/10
Model lean
Astros 67.9%
Market probability
45.6%
Model edge
+22.3%
Best moneyline
+116
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
67.9%
Market
45.6%

The case for Houston Astros

Starting pitcher edge: 14 points
LyDia gives Hayden Wesneski a 14-point edge over Freddy Peralta, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.59 vs 1.35) and WHIP (1.03 vs 1.36).

The case for Tampa Bay Rays

Team strength favors Tampa Bay Rays
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's own team-strength model has Tampa Bay Rays ahead (56.7% to 49.1%). The pick still comes from Houston Astros once the pitcher and bullpen terms are applied.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 5.3/10, under the 7.2/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 7.6/10
The Houston Astros bullpen comes in tired. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.
Cold stretch at the plate
Houston Astros is -0.018 wOBA below its own season form.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 6.44/10
LyDia's win probability for Houston Astros (67.9%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 28/40
Hayden Wesneski rates 71 on LyDia's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 18.54/50
Houston Astros's recent form does not clearly outpace Tampa Bay Rays's.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 49.1%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes Houston Astros 49.1% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 14 points
The pitcher-score gap favors Houston Astros by 14 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: -0.036
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward Tampa Bay Rays. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 49.1% -> 67.9%
Team strength alone had Houston Astros at 49.1%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 67.9% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict LyDia passes. The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Read the full model output

The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Game information

MatchupHouston Astros at Tampa Bay Rays
DateSunday, September 13, 2026
First pitch1:40 PM ET
VenueTropicana Field
Starting pitchersHayden Wesneski vs Freddy Peralta
WeatherGame-time forecast: 81°F, 29% precipitation chance, 5 mph wind from N.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Hayden WesneskiAstros · RHP
vs
Freddy PeraltaRays · RHP
MetricAstrosRays
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅔5⅓
ThrowsRR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)7157
ERA (lower is better)3.354.82
WHIP (lower is better)1.031.36
K/9 (higher is better)7.18.4
K-BB% (higher is better)12.2%13.0%
K% (higher is better)20.0%21.3%
BB% (lower is better)7.8%8.2%
BB/9 (lower is better)2.83.2
HR/9 (lower is better)0.61.4
Ground-ball rate43.2%45.0%
Fly-ball rate56.8%55.0%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Hayden Wesneski a 14-point edge over Freddy Peralta, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.59 vs 1.35) and WHIP (1.03 vs 1.36).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Hayden Wesneski strikeouts
2.5 LyDia projected Ks
No strikeout line posted when this page was generated
Freddy Peralta strikeouts
5.0 LyDia projected Ks
No strikeout line posted when this page was generated

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Astros are 5-5 in their last 10 and averaging 3.5 runs per game over the last 15 days; Rays are 6-4 in their last 10 and averaging 4.6 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Rays carry the better run differential per game (+0.40 against -0.29).

MetricAstrosRays
Last 105-56-4
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)5-5 on the road7-3 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.6840.733
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.2990.320
Runs per game, last 15 days3.54.6
K% last 15 days (lower is better)23.3%16.9%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysAstrosRays
OPS0.686 (-0.036 vs szn)0.704 (-0.028 vs szn)
Runs per game3.93 (-0.537 vs szn)4.25 (-0.264 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.299 (-0.018 vs szn)0.310 (-0.013 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)24.1% (+2.2% vs szn)16.3% (-2.0% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Rays have been the better offense, 0.310 wOBA to 0.299. They are cooling off against their own season line (-0.013 wOBA). Astros are striking out at 24.1% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricAstrosRays
Record75-7489-59
Run differential / game (team quality)-0.29+0.40
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.464.51
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.754.11
Season OPS0.7220.732
K% season (lower is better)21.8%18.4%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7260.755

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Astros and Rays are highlighted.

Astros
Combined risk
7.6 Tired
Fatigue
7.6 Tired
Efficiency
5.0 Average
Rays
Combined risk
6.4 Tired
Fatigue
6.6 Tired
Efficiency
5.5 Effective

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricAstrosRays
Fatigue7.6/10, Tired6.6/10, Tired
Efficiency5.0/10, Average5.5/10, Effective
Combined risk7.6/10, Tired6.4/10, Tired
Relief innings, last 7 days21.318.7
Back-to-back arms77
7-day ERA4.223.38
7-day WHIP1.271.29

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
6.9
Market total
7.5
Projected away runs
2.4
Projected home runs
3.8
Over price
-117
Under price
+107
Houston Astros team total
2.4 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending
Tampa Bay Rays team total
3.8 projected
Line Not available · O Not available / U Not available
Market line pending

The model and market are close. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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