The Texas Rangers will head east to square off against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Southwest will be airing this AL matchup.
Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Texas (+145) as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-155). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for +100 or the under for -120. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at -150 for the Rangers +1.5 runs and +130 for the Rays -1.5.
The Rays are just 3-12 SU and 7-7 ATS. They’ve lost 8.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.9 units against the spread (ATS). The Rangers are 6-11 SU and have gone 6-10 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 7.3 units ATS.
Rays games have had an over/under record of 8-6 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 7-8-1.
The Rangers have lost 1.4 units and are 1-3 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 2.5 units and are 4-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under.
Left-hander Martin Perez is getting the nod for Texas. Perez is 1-1 with an 11.88 ERA and three strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-0, 9.00 ERA and six strikeouts over five innings).
The Rays are sending lefty Blake Snell (1-1, 3.60 ERA) to the mound. Snell has 17 punchouts and 10 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.20. Snell did not record a start against the Rangers in 2017.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.10, a WHIP of 1.39 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.5. The bullpen has a 4.68 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 8.1 K/9.
The Tampa Bay hitters are putting up 3.2 runs per contest, including 3.5 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .233/.346/.313 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Rays’ offense has been led by second baseman Joey Wendle and left fielder Mallex Smith. Wendle is hitting .263/.370/.474 with 10 hits, four RBIs and four runs scored, while Smith’s line is .350/.409/.475 with 14 hits, three RBIs and five runs scored.
For the visitors, Texas’ pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.25 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 8.40 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.53, along with a K/9 of 8.28.
The Rangers offense has slashed .225/.299/.364 on its way to 3.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Adrian Beltre have led Texas’ offense. Andrus is slashing .327/.426/.500 with 17 hits, five RBIs and seven runs scored, while Beltre (.283/.358/.417) is up to 17 hits, three RBIs and six runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .297/.337/.471, Andrus performed well against left-handed pitching on the road last season, putting up a slash line of .318/.352/.561 across 71 such plate appearances.
Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in five of Tampa Bay’s last seven games.
- Tampa Bay has posted 19.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 18.4 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
