The set-up: Two of the best in the league over the last couple of years go head to head on the mound tonight, but for this particular selection, I don't think that the home field advantage can be overlooked as a very real deciding factor. The visitors hand the ball to Charlie Morton, while the Astros counter with ace Justin Verlander.

The pitchers: Morton (13-5, 2.85 ERA) has alternated good starts with bad since the All Star Break, going 3-3 with a pedestrian 4.10 ERA over eight starts.

Verlander (15-5, 2.77) comes in off a rare 2-1 setback vs. Detroit, allowing two runs and posting 11 K's over nine innings of work (is 9-4 with a 3.30 ERA over 19 career match ups vs. the Rays.)

The pick: The Astros have won seven of eight after a three-game sweep of the Angels over the weekend and I believe that momentum is carried over into the opener of this series and as we get ready to close out the regular season. Lay the price.

Houston Astros 8* play