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The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros play Game 2 of the best-of-7 American League Championship Series Sunday. First pitch from Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 4:37 p.m. ET (FOX/FS1). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Astros odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
ALCS: Rangers lead 1-0
The Rangers kept up their winning ways on the road in this postseason. Texas posted a 2-0 win in Game 1 on Sunday evening in a well-pitched game, its 1st appearance in the ALCS round since 2011. The Rangers collected just 6 hits, but one of them was an unexpected solo HR from OF Leody Taveras in the 5th inning off of RHP Justin Verlander.
Texas saw LHP Jordan Montgomery bounce back from a shaky showing in the ALDS against Baltimore, twirling 6 1/3 scoreless IP. The Rangers are now 6-0 in the postseason, including 5-0 on the road.
Houston is in the ALCS for the 7th consecutive season. It managed just 5 hits against the southpaw Montgomery. It was a huge departure from a 3-game sweep in September when Houston overpowered Texas by a 39-10 margin, while belting 16 HR.
Rangers at Astros projected starters
RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. LHP Framber Valdez
Eovaldi made 25 starts in the regular season, going 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA. He had a 1.14 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 over 144 innings.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K in 7-1 home win vs. the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the ALDS last Tuesday
- 2023 road splits: 6-2, 3.56 ERA (78 1/3 IP, 31 ER), 6 HR in 13 starts
- Making his 9th career postseason start and 14th overall appearance
Valdez was 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA across 31 regular-season starts. He had a 1.13 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 in 198 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 5 K in 6-2 home loss vs. the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS
- 2023 home splits: 4-8, 3.35 ERA (102 IP, 38 ER), 7 HR in 16 starts in the regular season
- Making his 14th career postseason start and 15th overall appearance
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Rangers at Astros odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:17 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Astros -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-196) | Astros -1.5 (+162)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: +100 | U: -122)
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Rangers at Astros picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Astros 3
Moneyline
The RANGERS (+110) are worth a look as short ‘dogs on the road, where they have been tremendously comfortable in the postseason so far.
Texas is also worth a look because of Valdez, who has actually had a lot more success on the road than he has in his home park this season. In fact, Valdez not only lost Game 2 against the Twins at Minute Maid Park, he has lost 4 straight starts at home, including the ALDS, last beating the Cleveland Guardians at MMP on Aug. 1 in his no-hitter.
Run line/Against the spread
The Rangers +1.5 (-198) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that’s a little too expensive for a little insurance. And, frankly, the way Texas has played in the postseason so far, you don’t need it.
AVOID, and roll with the visitors on the moneyline instead.
Over/Under
The UNDER 8.5 (-122) is a big number, especially after these Lone Star State rivals combined for just 2 runs in the series opener.
However, the final 4 meetings of the regular season ended up going Over, and the total went high in 6 of the final 7 meetings overall. But the postseason is a different animal. Monday’s game will see a lot more offense than the series opener, but it’ll still come under the total.
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