The Texas Rangers will do battle against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Park. This AL matchup will begin at 8:05 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Southwest to catch the game.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers Odds
The Rangers are 64-85 straight up (SU) and 73-75 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle a lot for gamblers, losing 4.2 units for moneyline bettors and 6.8 units (ATS). Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rays are 82-66 SU and have gone 83-64 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 22.3 units for moneyline gamblers and 20.9 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Rangers games have had an over/under record of 70-68-10 in 2018. The Rays have been a good under bet with a total record of 64-78-5.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow will get the start for the visiting Rays. Glasnow is 1-6 with a 4.48 ERA and 115 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rangers are planning to start Adrian Sampson (0-1, 5.06 ERA), who’s got three punchouts and one walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.31. Sampson did not record any MLB pitching stats last season.
Texas’ pitching staff has allowed 5.3 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.41, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.3. The bullpen has a 4.31 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
The Texas hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per contest, including 3.5 per game over its last 10 games and 2.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .220/.285/.378 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Shin-soo Choo and Jurickson Profar have led the Rangers’ batters this year. Choo is slashing .270/.384/.448 with 21 home runs, 62 RBIs and 80 runs scored, and Profar is hitting .258 with 18 homers, 74 RBIs and 78 runs.
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.66 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9.40 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.65, along with a WHIP of 1.17.
Rays hitters have slashed .257/.333/.404 on their way to 4.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and left fielder Mallex Smith. The speedy Duffy is slashing .297/.361/.371 with four home runs, 42 RBIs and 53 runs scored, while Smith (.300/.369/.412) is up to two homers, 36 RBIs, 55 runs and 33 stolen bases.
The Rangers have lost 1.8 units and are 50-49 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 45 of those games, compared to 49 that’ve gone under against righty starters.
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in four of Tampa Bay’s last seven contests.
- The Rays have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rangers have hit 11 over their last 10.
- Texas has recorded 17.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.2 over its last five.
