Peter Lambert RHP
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
3.67
82nd
WHIP
1.23
94th
K/9
8.83
78th
BB/9
3.61
135th
P-Score56i
FIP
–
HR/9
0.90
67th
OPS/R
–
IP
139.2
Last 5 starts
ERA
3.62
FinalFinal lineupsAL West / AL East
Houston Astros 2, Tampa Bay Rays 3
Final Score and Game Recap
Final score, pitching lines and standings context.
6:10 PM ET · Tropicana FieldGame-day snapshot Sep 12, 9:10 PM ETFinal lineups lockedCurrent 2026 season stats — updated Oct 9, 5:00 AM ET
Pitching recap
| Pitcher | Team | Role | IP | H | ER | BB | K | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Lambert | HOU | StarterLoss | 6.0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 85 |
| Ian Seymour | TB | Starter | 6.0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 79 |
| Tyler Wells | TB | ReliefWin | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| Bryan Baker | TB | ReliefSave | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 |
Scoring by inning
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
 Tampa Bay Rays | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Top hitters
Isaac Paredes1-for-4 · 1 HR · 1 RBI
Richie Palacios1-for-2 · 2 RBI
Yainer Diaz3-for-4 · 1 RBI
Jose Altuve1-for-3 · 1 R · 1 BB
Victor Mesa Jr.1-for-2 · 1 R · 2 BB
Matchup at a glance
PitcherStat calculationPregame contextStarting pitchers
Ian Seymour LHP
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
4.33
120th
WHIP
1.16
41st
K/9
10.83
18th
BB/9
2.55
48th
P-Score55i
FIP
–
HR/9
1.70
198th
OPS/R
–
IP
116.1
Last 5 starts
ERA
4.03
Rays bring broader statistical edge, but Astros counter with Peter Lambert’s steadier starter profile
A matchup between two first-place clubs arrives with different shapes to it.
Tampa Bay enters Saturday at 88-59, comfortably ahead of Houston’s 75-73 mark, and most of the team-level numbers lean the Rays’ way. They’ve been slightly better offensively across the season — 4.52 runs per game to Houston’s 4.48, with edges in batting average (.260 to .241), on-base percentage (.328 to .315) and OPS (.732 to .724) — and they also bring the stronger bullpen line, with a 3.75 ERA and 1.19 WHIP compared with the Astros’ 4.21 and 1.28.
That makes this game interesting because Houston’s clearest edge shows up right where the night begins.
The probable starters offer a contrast between swing-and-miss stuff and steadier run prevention. Houston’s Peter Lambert has the better traditional profile in this matchup, carrying a 3.67 ERA and 3.90 FIP over 25 starts and 139.2 innings. He’s also done a better job keeping the ball in the park, with a 0.90 HR/9 compared with Ian Seymour’s 1.70, and he owns a slightly higher quality-start rate.
Seymour, though, gives Tampa Bay a different kind of threat. In 13 starts, the left-hander has posted a 10.8 K/9, well ahead of Lambert’s 8.8, while also showing better control with a 2.5 BB/9 against Lambert’s 3.6. His 1.16 WHIP is lower as well. If Lambert’s case is built on limiting damage, Seymour’s is built on missing bats and avoiding free passes.
That split in pitcher profiles fits the larger picture of the matchup. Tampa Bay has been the more complete club over the full season, and its recent scoring has ticked up to 4.70 runs per game over the last 10 contests. Houston is 5-5 in that stretch and has averaged 3.30 runs, so an offense that has been slightly behind Tampa Bay on the season comes in without much recent margin for error.
There isn’t a huge gap in raw power production — Houston actually has a narrow slugging advantage, .409 to .404 — so this doesn’t set up as a one-dimensional comparison. But when the broader résumé is stacked together, the Rays have more categories working in their favor, while the Astros may need Lambert’s stronger run-prevention line to be the statistic that matters most.
With lineups still unconfirmed, that opening matchup on the mound looks like the cleanest place to start.
- Tampa Bay holds the better overall team profile: 88-59 record, slight season edges in runs, AVG, OBP and OPS, plus the stronger bullpen ERA and WHIP.
- Houston’s Peter Lambert has the better run-prevention numbers among the probable starters, with a 3.67 ERA, 3.90 FIP and 0.90 HR/9.
- Ian Seymour brings the higher strikeout rate and better control, posting a 10.8 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and 1.16 WHIP for the Rays.
How the lineups match the starters' pitch mix
Pitch data coverage: partial. Usage and velocity only.
Team OPS vs opposing starter's hand
Lineups
Final lineupsOrder from the stored snapshot; treat as unofficial until the card is filed.Full lineup page
Team comparison
HOU·TBAVG.242 19th.258 1st
OPS.732 7th.728 8th
Home runs226 1st169 22nd
Runs734 13th736 12th
OBP.315 19th.326 6th
SLG.417 4th.402 14th
HOU·TB1stMLB rank30th
HOUTB
HOUTB
HOUTB
HOUTB
HOU·TB1stMLB rank30th
no league rank
no league rank
HOUTB
HOU·TB+30814th
Run differential
+3665th
81–81 Record98–64
5–5 Last 106–4
Last 10 games
L
W
L
W
L
L
W
W
W
L
W
L
W
W
L
W
W
L
L
W
2026 head-to-head
Season Series
3—4
Frequently asked
Who is starting for the Astros?+
Peter Lambert (3.67 ERA, 8–8) is listed as the starter.
Who is starting for the Rays?+
Ian Seymour (4.33 ERA, 9–6) is listed as the starter.
What time does the game start?+
6:10 PM ET at Tropicana Field.
Where is the game being played?+
Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Are the lineups confirmed?+
Not as official league cards. The orders shown are the current projected or last-posted lineups.
How have the Astros and Rays performed head-to-head?+
Season series: Rays 4–3 this season.
How do the starters compare on P-Score?+
Peter Lambert is at 56; Ian Seymour is at 55. P-Score is PitcherStat's 0–100 season index for qualified starters.