The Texas Rangers (35-63) and Houston Astros (59-39) play the second game of a three-game set Saturday at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. 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 6-2 with a 2.86 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 7.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 over 107 innings across 18 starts.
After a 6-0 start, Gibson has fallen back to Earth in a big way. He was hammered for eight earned runs, 10 hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings of a 14-0 loss at the Detroit Tigers Monday. He is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA across 17 innings over three July starts.
LHP Framber Valdez is the projected starting pitcher for the Astros. He is 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8.3 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 across 60 2/3 innings in 10 starts.
Valdez has been a little shaky in July, too. He allowed four runs, seven hits and two walks across 6 1/3 innings in a 4-0 loss at the Chicago White Sox Sunday. He is 1-1 with a 5.24 ERA across four outings in 22 1/3 innings in July.
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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 10:16 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rangers +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Astros -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rangers +1.5 (-115) | Astros -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Prediction
Astros 7, Rangers 3
Money line (ML)
The Astros (-200) will cost you two times your potential return in this middle game of the Silver Boot Series. While the Rangers are just 5-22 in the past 27 trips to Houston, and 8-19 in the past 27 meetings overall, this is just too expensive.
AVOID and look to the run line instead.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The ASTROS -1.5 (-105) are a much better value. Houston usually dominates this rivalry. That dominance was on display in Friday’s 7-3 win in the series opener. Look for more of the same in the middle game.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 8 (-110) is the play, not because of short- or long-term trends, but because Gibson has been horrific lately for the Rangers, and Valdez has been quite giving lately for the Astros, too.
The Over is 8-1 in the past nine head-to-head meetings, and 6-0 in the past six battles in H-Town.
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