The Texas Rangers (25-41) open a two-game road series against the cross-state rival Houston Astros (37-28) Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET at Minute Maid Park. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rangers vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Kyle Gibson is the projected starting pitcher for the Rangers. He is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 7.3 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 through 71 2/3 IP over 12 starts.
Gibson has allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 12 starts this season. He pitched into the sixth inning in all his starts except his first of the season.
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. is the projected starting pitcher for the Astros. He is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 10.3 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 over 51 2/3 IP through 9 starts.
He will be activated from the 10-day injured list to make his first start since suffering a shoulder injury in his last appearance (May 22).
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Rangers at Astros odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rangers +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Astros -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rangers +1.5 (-135) | Astros -1.5 (+110)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Rangers 6, Astros 4
Money line (ML)
The Rangers face the Astros for their third series of the season. They are 3-0 at home and 0-4 in Houston. Texas is 10-25 on the road this season and lost two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first three games of its current road trip.
Houston is 20-13 at home and is coming off a 6-3 road trip. The Astros won four of their last five games at Minute Maid Park. McCullers’ last two starts came against the Rangers.
The Rangers won each of Gibson’s last three starts and are 8-4 when he is on the mound. I like him over McCullers in his first start back.
Take the RANGERS (+145).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Rangers are an even 33-33 ATS this season and 19-16 ATS on the road. However, they covered the spread in only two of their last 10 games. They covered in two of Gibson’s last three starts.
The Astros are 16-17 ATS at home this year but covered the spread in five of their last eight games. In the four starts before McCullers’ injury, the Astros won all four by at least 3 runs.
Expecting a Rangers outright win and Gibson to outshine McCullers, take the RANGERS +1.5 (-135).
Over/Under (O/U)
The Astros are 38-25-2 O/U this season. Five of the seven head-to-head meetings went Over the projected total. We should expect more of the same.
Take OVER 8.5 (-105).
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