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The Texas Rangers (24-27) and Minnesota Twins (26-23) open a 3-game weekend series Friday. First pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Twins odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Minnesota won 5-2 in 2023
The Rangers enter the series having lost 4 straight and 10 of their last 12. Texas failed to cash as a (+180) underdog with a 5-2 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday. LHP Andrew Heaney took the loss, and dating back to 2023, the 32-year-old is winless in 16 straight regular-season appearances.
The Twins just won 2 at the Washington Nationals after enduring a 7-game losing streak. Minnesota cashed as a (-120) favorite in a 3-2 win Wednesday as SS Carlos Correa and RF Max Kepler both homered.
Rangers at Twins projected starters
RHP Jose Urena vs. RHP Bailey Ober
Urena (1-3, 3.29 ERA) makes his 4th start and 14th appearance. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 5.6 K/9 in 38 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 3-2 home win vs. Los Angeles Angels Saturday
- His K/9 is 2nd-lowest among 75 AL pitchers with at least 30 IP
Ober (4-2, 4.40 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.00 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 9.4 K/9 in 47 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 11-4 loss at Cleveland Guardians Saturday
- Among 75 qualified AL pitchers, only Astros RHP Justin Verlander has a higher fly-ball percentage (56.7%) than Ober (52.0%)
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Rangers at Twins odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:27 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers +136 (bet $100 to win $136) | Twins -162 (bet $162 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-154) | Twins -1.5 (+128)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -122 | U: +100)
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Rangers at Twins picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 5, Twins 4
Moneyline
BET RANGERS (+136).
Ober got roughed up in his start vs. Texas last season, allowing 5 ER (2 HR) in 4 innings. This year, the 6-foot-9 28-year-old allows the most hard contact (40.3 hard %) vs. right-handed hitters out of 60 AL pitchers with at least 20 IP.
The mountainous Ober now gets to face a Rangers team that hits the ball harder vs. RHP (33.5 hard %) than any other team in the AL. Expect righties like RF Adolis Garcia and 2B Marcus Semien to take advantage, plus SS Corey Seager should feel refreshed after getting a day off Thursday.
Run line/Against the spread
Consider including Rangers +1.5 (-154) in a parlay.
The Rangers +1.5 (-154) and Baltimore Orioles (-275 at Chicago White Sox, 7:40 p.m. ET), who have AL Cy Young contender RHP Corbin Burnes taking the mound, pays out +125.
Over/Under
BET OVER 8.5 (-122).
Urena has a 4.86 road ERA in over 400 career innings, and this year the Twins aren’t far behind the Rangers in hard hit percentage vs. righties (4th-best in AL at 32.2%). Plus, the 32-year-old has seen his pitches hit the strike zone at a 37.1% clip, good for 4th-lowest in the AL.
If the Twins hitters can stay patient and get on base, they could certainly take advantage of Urena and a Rangers pen that enters Friday with an MLB-worst 5.14 ERA.
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