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The Texas Rangers (82-66) and the Cleveland Guardians (71-78) wrap up a 3-game series Sunday at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Guardians odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rangers lead 3-2
The Rangers dropped a 2nd straight game in Cleveland on Saturday, falling 2-1, and Texas is now a half-game back of the Houston Astros for the top spot in the American League West, while staying just a game ahead of the 3rd-place Seattle Mariners.
The Rangers are also now just 37-36 on the road, and Texas is in danger of getting swept in a series for the 1st time since losing 3 in a row against those aforementioned Astros back on July 31-Aug. 2.
Sunday was supposed to be RHP Max Scherzer‘s turn in the rotation, but he is on the 10-day injured list due to a shoulder injury which is expected to knock him out for the season.
LHP Andrew Heaney was previously in the rotation, but he was tuned up for 6 runs and 6 hits in 2 IP of relief Friday, throwing 55 pitches, so he is unlikely to start. Another former rotation member, LHP Martin Perez, made 23 pitches in a relief appearance Saturday, and he is unlikely to go Sunday in a starting capacity, either.
The Guardians are showing fight down the stretch, but are still 7 games behind the 1st-place Minnesota Twins in the AL Central, and a division title is realistically Cleveland’s only avenue to a postseason berth. As such, analytics show the Guardians to have just a 0.2% chance of making the playoffs.
Rangers at Guardians projected starters
TBD vs. RHP Gavin Williams
The Rangers were still undecided on a starter for Sunday at the time of publishing.
Williams (2-5, 3.43 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 in 76 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 4 BB, 2 K in 5-4 road loss in 10 innings vs. the San Francisco Giants Monday
- 2023 home splits: 2-3, 4.02 ERA (47 IP, 21 ER), 6 HR, .240 opponent batting average (OBA) in 9 starts
- 2023 vs. Texas: Loss, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 4 K in 2-0 road loss July 15
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Rangers at Guardians odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers -108 (bet $108 to win $100) | Guardians -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (+152) | Guardians +1.5 (-184)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -122 | U: +100)
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Rangers at Guardians picks and predictions
Prediction
Guardians 4, Rangers 2
Moneyline
The GUARDIANS (-108) are a decent play as Cleveland looks to complete the 3-game series sweep in front of the home fans.
While Cleveland’s postseason hopes are on life support, it continues to fight on, making life miserable for Texas in the process. The home side has won all 5 meetings in 2023, so keep rolling with that trend.
Run line/Against the spread
The GUARDIANS ALT RUN LINE -1.5 (+158) is worth playing as the Rangers have some upheaval in the rotation with the injury to Scherzer. It’s not an optimal situation at this time of the year, especially in a 3-way fight for the division title. Texas can’t get out of Cleveland soon enough.
Over/Under
The UNDER 7.5 (+100) is the lean, but go lightly. Williams has been shaky overall after starting out decent initially. We saw a very low-scoring game on Saturday, and we’re likely to see a the runs at a premium again in this daytime affair.
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