The Texas Rangers will head north to Guaranteed Rate Field to face the Chicago White Sox. NBC Sports Chicago is in line to broadcast this AL showdown and the game gets going at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Chicago (+115) as the underdog to Texas (-125). The total sits at 9 runs and bettors can take the over for -115 and the under for -105. Runline odds stand at +120 for taking the Rangers -1.5 runs and -140 for the White Sox +1.5.
The Rangers have gone 17-27 SU this year and are 17-26 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.9 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 13.2 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 10-29 SU and 18-20 ATS. The team’s lost 15.7 units for moneyline bettors and 6.3 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
White Sox games have an over/under record of 19-17-2 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 22-18-3.
Cole Hamels will get the nod for Texas. The southpaw Hamels is 2-4 with a 3.48 ERA and 57 strikeouts. He has yet to face the White Sox this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 2.70 ERA and six strikeouts over six and two-third innings).
The White Sox are handing the ball to righty James Shields (1-4, 5.44 ERA), who has 28 strikeouts and 22 walks to his name, as well as a 1.38 WHIP. Shields only made one start against the Rangers in 2017 (0-0, 3.38 ERA and six strikeouts across five and 1-third innings).
Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.14 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.18 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.29, along with a WHIP of 1.46.
Rangers hitters have slashed .230/.300/.389 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game this season, including 3.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Texas’ offensive production been powered by right fielder Nomar Mazara and third baseman Adrian Beltre. Mazara is hitting .279/.335/.509 with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 24 runs scored, while Beltre (.314/.375/.422) is up to one homers, 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Mazara seemed to take a step back when hitting on the road in 2017. Over 301 plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .206/.276/.360 (compared to his overall season line of .253/.323/.422).
For the home team, Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 5.7 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have a 5.94 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 5.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.56 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
Chicago’s offense has produced 3.8 runs per contest, including 3.5 per game over its last 10 games and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .212/.282/.327 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The White Sox batters have been led by Matt Davidson and Jose Abreu. Davidson is hitting .250/.370/.567 with 11 home runs, 24 RBIs and 18 runs scored, and Abreu’s line is .287/.349/.487 with seven homers, 21 RBIs and 19 runs.
Abreu appeared to enjoy facing lefty pitching in 2017, slashing .356/.402/.631 over 164 plate appearances (compared to his overall season line of .304/.354/.552).
The Rangers have lost 0.5 units and are 13-17 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 15 of those games, as opposed to 14 that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the White Sox have lost 4.8 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in six of those games, compared to three that went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The White Sox have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
The Texas defense has allowed 12 errors over the last 10 games, compared to four errors for Chicago over its last 10.
The Rangers have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The White Sox have hit 12 over their last 10.
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