2020 MLB Playoffs: Astros vs. Rays ALCS Game 6 odds and pick

Many thought this ALCS wouldn’t make it to Game 6 after the Tampa Bay Rays jumped out to a 3-0 series lead, but the Houston Astros have battled back with consecutive 4-3 victories – the latest coming via a walk-off homer by Carlos Correa – to make things interesting.

Join us as we break down Game 6 of the ALCS and determine if the Rays will finish the job, or if we’ll head to a Game 7.

Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays, 6:07 p.m. ET, TBS

The Astros have all the momentum and appear to have the advantage in both the hitting and pitching departments over the Rays heading into Game 6 this Friday.

Framber Valdez will toe the rubber for Houston, and he sports a solid 2.00 ERA through 18 innings of work this postseason. That includes his quality start against Tampa in Game 1 of this series in which he allowed just two earned runs over six innings of work.

The Astros burned through most of their quality relievers in Game 5, but starter-turned-longman Cristian Javier should be available after last pitching on Wednesday. In 8 1/3 innings of postseason work in 2020, Javier has surrendered only one earned run.

The Rays lineup, with the exception of outfielder Randy Arozarena, has underachieved this postseason, batting .210 as a team. Second baseman Brandon Lowe and shortstop Willy Adames, who have racked up the second and third-most playoff at-bats for their club in 2020, are a combined 8-for-89 (.090) with only one home run.

"Guys are doing everything in their power to get locked in and get good at-bats, but it’s the ALCS," Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier told reporters after Game 5. "They’re going to throw out good pitcher after good pitcher…we need to get on base and put pressure on them." 

Blake Snell counters for the Rays, and although he held Houston to one run over five innings of work in Game 1 of the ALCS, he didn’t look all that strong. He scattered six hits and two walks, struck out only two batters, and relied on fly balls (12, compared to five ground-ball outs) to get himself out of danger in a 105-pitch effort.

Snell has struggled with this high-octane Astros offense in the past. Outfielder George Springer, second baseman Jose Altuve, and DH Michael Brantley, who have combined for 21 hits (including six home runs) and six walks in this series, are 12-for-30 (.400) as a unit against Snell with five home runs.

MLB pick: Astros moneyline