Cleveland Guardians at Texas Rangers odds, picks and predictions

The Cleveland Guardians (45-45) begin a 3-game series against the Texas Rangers (52-39) on Friday at Globe Life Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Guardians vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting of 2023; the Guardians went 5-1 against the Rangers in 2022

The Guardians lost 4-1 to the Kansas City Royals in their last game before the All-Star break on Sunday. Cleveland has tallied a 6-4 record in its last 10 games and is half a game ahead of the Minnesota Twins for 1st place in the AL Central.

The Rangers lost 7-2 to the Washington Nationals Sunday as they headed into the break with 2 consecutive losses. Texas is 3-7 in its last 10 outings and is now only 2 games ahead of the Houston Astros in the AL West race.

Guardians at Rangers projected starters

RHP Aaron Civale vs. RHP Jon Gray

Civale (3-2, 2.56 ERA) makes his 10th start. He has a 1.06 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 through 52 2/3 IP.

• Has walked 2 or more batters in 5 of his first 9 starts
• Has pitched 6 innings or more in 4 straight outings

Gray (6-5, 3.29 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.14 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 7.3 K/9 through 93 IP.

• Has walked multiple batters in 10 of his first 16 contests
• Has given up 3 ER or more in 3 of his last 4 turns

Guardians at Rangers odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:44 a.m. ET.

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Guardians at Rangers picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 5, Guardians 3

Even with Civale’s hot start to the season and Cleveland’s 8-2 record against Texas in the last 10 meetings, I’ll back the RANGERS (-150) on Friday. The Rangers are 27-18 at home compared to the Guardians going just 21-23 on the road in the first half of the season.

RANGERS -1.5 (+135) is an enticing bet with Texas being one of the best teams against right-handed pitching this season. The Rangers come out of the All-Star break boasting the 5th-best ISO (.188), the 2nd-best wOBA (.340) and the 2nd-best wRC+ (118) against righties.

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Despite the Rangers raking against righties and Gray’s recent woes, UNDER 8.5 (-105) is the lean in this contest. The Guardians are 6-4 to the Under in their last 10 games and the Rangers are 6-3-1 to the Under in their last 10.

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