The San Francisco Giants (4-4) host the Texas Rangers (2-4) Saturday at 9:10 p.m. ET for Game 2 of a series at Oracle Park. We analyze the Rangers-Giants betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
The pitcher-friendly ambiance did not deter the home club from excelling Friday, as the Giants thumped Texas 9-2 despite 2019 breakout lefty Mike Minor being on the bump for the Rangers.
Rangers at Giants: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Jordan Lyles at LHP Drew Smyly
Lyles is set to make his first start of 2020. His 4.15 ERA from 2019 hid some promising growth with command and dominance (9.3 K/9), but he’s long had problems with giving up home runs (1.60 yielded per nine last year).
- The righty has a 7.71 ERA in seven games (14 innings) at the Giants’ stadium, but he didn’t pitch there last year when he was a slightly better pitcher than normal.
San Francisco hasn’t announced an official starter, but it’ll probably be Smyly, who has a 2.08 ERA over 4 1/3 innings across two appearances. Given his stamina issues stemming from years of injury woes and changing roles, he may struggle to reach five innings in this one, after going just 3 1/3 frames July 26.
- A promising development, however, is that his velocity is up so far, pumping at an average four-seam fastball of 93.3 mph (2 mph more than 2019).
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Rangers at Giants: Key injuries
Visit sportsdata.usatoday.com to track all MLB injuries leading up to game time.
Rangers
- RP Jose Leclerc (shoulder) out
- RP Rafael Montero (elbow) out
- SP Corey Kluber (shoulder) out
Giants
- OF Billy Hamilton (undisclosed) questionable
- RP Reyes Moronta (shoulder) out
- C Buster Posey (personal) out
Rangers at Giants: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:45 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Giants 5, Rangers 3
Moneyline (ML)
- Rangers (-106), 78-84 on ML in 2019
- Giants (-106), 77-85 on ML in 2019
I lean toward making a tiny bet on the GIANTS (-106), given San Francisco’s pitcher-friendly environment, the equally questionable forecast for both pitchers, Texas’ bullpen injuries, and the Rangers’ below-average performance on the road since the start of 2019 (.302 wOBA, tied for 23rd).
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the GIANTS to win would return a profit of $9.43.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
- Rangers -1 (+120)
- Giants +1 (-143)
Considering neither listing offers a double-up or has any give with the extra half-run padding, PASS on the Run Line.
Over/Under (O/U)
- Over 8.5 -110
- Under 8.5 -110
After Friday’s action, Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is batting .414/.528/.793 with two homers in eight games.
Even with the Giants’ hot play (4-3-1 on the Over/Under so far), I’ll fade the early-season run and, as my 5-3 prediction says, peg this matchup barely at the UNDER 8.5 (-110) in the pitcher-leaning digs.
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