Stephen Nover's AL Run Line Game of Month
(MLB) Tampa Bay vs. Houston,
Point Spread: -1.50 | -120.00 Houston (Home)
Result: Win
The Rays halted the Astros' 12-game win streak Tuesday night nipping them, 2-1. That was just the Rays' second road victory in their past 11 tries.

Following this game, the Rays head home after being on the road for a week. They are idle Thursday and host the Yankees in a marquee series beginning Friday. So this isn't a great spot for the Rays.

The defending world champion Astros should bounce back strong here in a pitching matchup of righthanders Nathan Eovaldi versus Charlie Morton. Houston is 50-19 in its last 69 games against righty starters. I think it's a kill spot for the vastly superior Astros so I'm going to lay 1 1/2 runs to greatly reduce the vigorish.

Eovaldi will be making his fifth start since returning from a second Tommy John surgery. Eovaldi has flashed during his career, but he's still very much on the recovery trail. I don't see him ready to deal with an elite offense. Eovaldi faced the Yankees in his last start and surrendered five runs on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. The Astros have the highest batting average in the majors and are No. 2 in runs.

The Rays rank 25th in runs. Morton has thrived since joining the Astros. He's 8-1 with a 2.94 ERA this season. The Rays have struck out 10 or more times during each of their last six games.