The Tampa Bay Rays will square off against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. Fox Sports Southwest will televise this AL matchup and the game gets underway at 2:05 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers Odds
The Rays have gone 84-66 SU this year and are 85-64 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 24.3 units for moneyline bettors and 22.9 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 64-87 SU and 73-77 ATS. They’ve lost 6.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 9.1 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Rangers games have an over/under record of 71-69-10 in 2018. The Rays have been a good under bet with a total record of 65-79-5.
Diego Castillo will get the start for the visiting Rays. Castillo is 3-2 with a 3.24 ERA and 55 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rangers are going with lefty Yohander Mendez (2-1, 3.86 ERA), who has 11 strikeouts and nine walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.29. Mendez did not record a start against the Rays in 2017.
As a unit, Texas’ pitching staff has allowed 5.2 runs per game overall this year. The team’s starters have an ERA of 5.40, a WHIP of 1.44 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.3. The bullpen has a 4.29 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
The Texas offense is putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 2.8 per game over its last 10 games and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .199/.271/.348 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Shin-soo Choo and Jurickson Profar have led the Rangers’ hitters this year. Choo is hitting .269/.383/.445 with 21 home runs, 62 RBIs and 80 runs scored, while Profar’s line is .256/.339/.461 with 18 homers, 74 RBIs and 78 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.9 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.59 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.39 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.61, along with a K-per-9 of 8.22.
The Rays offense has slashed .258/.334/.405 on its way to 4.3 runs scored per game this season, including 4.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Tampa Bay’s offensive production has been sparked by third baseman Matt Duffy and second baseman Joey Wendle. The speedy Duffy is slashing .298/.362/.371 with four home runs, 42 RBIs and 53 runs scored. Wendle is hitting .298/.347/.432 with seven homers, 53 RBIs, 55 runs and 13 steals.
The Rays have gained 10.6 units and are 25-16 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 14 of those games, compared to 25 that’ve hit the under against ies.
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in four of Texas’ last seven games.
- Tampa Bay has posted 23.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.4 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
