The Texas Rangers will be taking on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Fox Sports Southwest will broadcast this AL showdown and the game is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are only 4-12 SU and 8-8 ATS. The team’s lost 8.4 units for moneyline bettors and 0.8 units against the spread (ATS). On the other hand, the Rangers have gone 6-12 SU this year and are 7-11 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors in this young season and 7.4 units ATS.
Rays games have an over/under record of 10-6 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 8-9-1.
Left-hander Matt Moore will get the start for the visiting Rangers. Moore is 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA and nine strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays are sending Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound. Chirinos has 12 strikeouts and two walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 0.70. Chirinos did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
Texas’ pitching staff allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.72 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 8.43 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.33, along with a K/9 of 8.32.
The Rangers offense has slashed .226/.297/.367 on its way to 3.3 runs scored per game this season, including 3.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Texas’ offensive production been led by shortstop Elvis Andrus and right fielder Nomar Mazara. Andrus is hitting .327/.426/.500 with 17 hits, five RBIs and seven runs scored, while Mazara has a .311 average with 19 hits, two homers, five RBIs and seven runs scored.
Putting up a slash line of .206/.276/.360 across 301 plate appearances, Mazara didn’t seem to enjoy hitting on the road last season (his total season line was .253/.323/.422).
For the home team, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have a 4.79 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.90 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 8.1 K/9.
Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up 3.5 runs per outing, including 4.1 per game over its last 10 games and 3.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .241/.323/.349 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Left fielder Mallex Smith and second baseman Daniel Robertson have paced the Rays’ hitters so far. Smith is hitting .409/.458/.545 with 18 hits, three RBIs and six runs scored, while Robertson’s line is .269/.472/.423 with seven hits, two RBIs and seven runs scored.
The Rangers have gained 0.8 units and are 6-7 ATS when facing a -handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in five of those games, as opposed to seven that’ve hit the under against y starters. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 1.4 units and are 5-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in four of those games, compared to two that went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has cashed in just two of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
Texas has posted 19.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 17.4 over its last five.
The Rangers have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
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