The Tampa Bay Rays will be facing off against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. The opening pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Southwest will broadcast this AL matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers Odds
Tampa Bay (-190) is favored over Texas (+180) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -115 for the under and -105 for the over. The game’s current runline odds stand at -135 for taking the Rays -1.5 runs and +115 for the Rangers +1.5 runs.
The Rays have gone 83-66 SU this year and are 84-64 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 23.3 units for moneyline gamblers and 21.9 units ATS. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 64-86 SU and 73-76 ATS. They’ve lost 5.4 units for moneyline bettors and 7.8 units ATS.
Rangers games have an over/under record of 71-68-10 in 2018. Tampa Bay has been a good under bet with a total record of 65-78-5.
The southpaw Blake Snell is getting the nod for the visiting Rays. Snell is 19-5 with a 2.03 ERA and 195 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 1.42 ERA against Texas this year.
The Rangers are turning to righty Yovani Gallardo (8-5, 6.67 ERA), who’s got 50 strikeouts and 40 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.63. Gallardo hasn’t faced the Rays yet this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 4.26 ERA and six strikeouts across 6.1 innings).
Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The team’s starters have a 5.40 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 6.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.30 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
The Texas hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per contest, including 3.2 per game over its last 10 games and 2.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .220/.289/.378 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Rangers’ offense has been led by Shin-soo Choo and Jurickson Profar. Choo is hitting .269/.383/.445 with 21 home runs, 62 RBIs and 80 runs scored, while Profar’s line is .258/.342/.465 with 18 homers, 74 RBIs and 78 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starters own a 3.62 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.40 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.63, along with a WHIP of 1.16 and a K/9 of 8.24.
Rays hitters have slashed .258/.333/.404 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game this year, including 5.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Tampa Bay’s offense has been powered by third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith. The speedy Duffy is hitting .297/.361/.371 with four home runs, 42 RBIs and 53 runs scored, while Smith (.302/.372/.414) is up to two homers, 36 RBIs, 56 runs and 33 steals.
The Rays have gained 12.8 units and are 59-48 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 51 of those games, compared to 53 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 2.4 units and are 23-26 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 25 of those games, compared to 19 that’ve gone under.
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The under has cashed in three of Texas’ last seven games.
Tampa Bay has recorded 23.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.0 over its last five.
The Rays have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rangers have hit 10 over their last 10.
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