The Texas Rangers (40-22) play the 2nd game of a 3-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (47-19) on Saturday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 1-0
The Rangers lost the series opener 8-3 Friday, dropping 2 straight games for the first time since losing 2 outings on May 3-5. Texas is still 5 games ahead of the Houston Astros for 1st place in the AL West.
The Rays got a 3-hit performance — including 2 home runs — from 3B Isaac Paredes in Friday’s victory. Tampa Bay is amid a 7-game win streak and it owns the best record in baseball right now.
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Rangers at Rays projected starters
RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. RHP Taj Bradley
Eovaldi (8-2, 2.24 ERA) makes his 13th start. He has a 0.93 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 through 80 1/3 IP.
- Has allowed just 4 ER over his last 7 starts after giving up multiple ER in each of his first 5 turns this season
- Career vs. Rays: 5-6, 4.04 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 in 13 starts and 2 relief appearances
Bradley (4-2, 3.60 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.17 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 12.3 K/9 through 35 IP.
- Won his first 3 career starts but has gone 1-2 over his last 4 outings
- Has tallied 6 or more K’s in 6 of his first 7 starts
Rangers at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Rays -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (+155) | Rays +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Rangers at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Rays 3
Moneyline
I’ll back the RANGERS (-110) in Saturday’s showdown although it feels wrong betting against the Rays at home. Eovaldi has been lights out over his last 7 turns and I’ll side with the veteran pitcher over the rookie pitcher in a matchup between two of the best teams in baseball.
Run line/Against the spread
Even though the Rays should keep this game close, go ahead and PASS on the run line in this game. Tampa Bay +1.5 (-190) should keep this game close, but that’s too steep of a price tag to warrant a wager.
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Over/Under
UNDER 8 (-110) is the lean in this contest with how Eovaldi and Bradley have performed thus far. The Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings between these teams and 7-3-1 in their last 11 meetings in Tampa Bay.
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