San Diego Padres vs Texas Rangers Prediction 7-28-23 MLB Picks

The Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres meet Friday in MLB action from Petco Park. The Rangers are coming off a series versus the Astros this week, losing two of the three games for their second consecutive series defeat. As for San Diego, they also lost two of three in their last series, theirs to the Pirates. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Texas Rangers 

The Rangers took a couple of tough losses to the Astros this week, 10-9 Monday and 4-3 Tuesday. Wednesday’s game three finale went much better, though: a 13-5 win. Texas’ Marcus Semien (two RBI; three runs), Nathaniel Lowe (three RBI; two runs), Adolis Garcia (four RBI) and Sam Huff each had home runs in the victory during a wild offensive outing. 

In the starting pitcher slot for the Rangers on Friday it’ll be Dane Dunning. This year Dunning is 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 22 games (14 starts). He’s got 64 Ks in 102.0 innings. Dunning took a loss to the Dodgers his last time up on 3.0 innings and five earned runs. 

Texas Rangers Team Facts

• The underdogs have won three of the Rangers' last four games.
• The Rangers have covered the run line each of their last seven games against NL West opponents that held a losing record.
• The Rangers have led after 5 innings in each of their last 12 games against NL West opponents that held a losing record.
• The Rangers have led after 7 innings in seven of their last nine games as underdogs against NL West opponents.
• The 'Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the Rangers' last four games as underdogs against NL West opponents.

Texas Rangers Player Prop Facts

• Nathaniel Lowe has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Rangers' last five games as underdogs against NL West opponents.
• Dane Dunning has recorded four or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances.
• Adolis Garcia has hit a home run in each of the Rangers' last four night games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Nathaniel Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rangers' last 10 night games.
• Adolis Garcia has scored at least one run in each of the Rangers' last seven night games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Leody Taveras has recorded at least one total base in each of his last eight appearances with the Rangers as underdogs against NL West opponents.
• Adolis Garcia ranks T7th in the league in Home Runs (25) this season.

San Diego Padres 

Over on the Padres’ side, they managed a 5-1 win over the Pirates on Tuesday but otherwise fell 8-4 in game one and 3-2 in the finale. In Thursdays’ game, San Diego 3B Manny Machado and DH Juan Soto were the only players with an RBI, and the team had just four hits collectively. (Kim Ha-seong, Xander Bogaerts and Luis Campusano had the other three.) 

Joe Musgrove will make the start for the Padres on Friday. Over his 16 starts this year Musgrove is 9-3 with a 3.25 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 91.1 innings. Musgrove gave up three earned in 6.0 innings during a loss in Detroit in his last start.

San Diego Padres Team Facts

• The Padres have won each of their last eight games against the Rangers.
• The Padres have covered the run line in 12 of their last 13 night games against AL West opponents following a loss.
• The Padres have led after 3 innings in each of their last three night games against the Rangers at Petco Park.
• The Padres have led after 7 innings in each of their last six night games against American League opponents.
• The 'Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs' market has hit in each of the last three games between the Rangers and Padres.

San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts

• Fernando Tatis Jr. has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Padres' last eight night games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
• Manny Machado has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Padres' last eight home games against AL opponents.
• Manny Machado has scored at least one run in 10 of the Padres' last 11 home games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Joe Musgrove has recorded eight or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances with the Padres as favourites against AL West opponents.
• Trent Grisham has hit a home run in each of the Padres' last two games against the Rangers.
• Xander Bogaerts has recorded at least one hit in each of the Padres' last eight games.
• Juan Soto ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.417) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The San Diego Padres ranks T1st in the league for walks this season (429).
• The San Diego Padres ranks 2nd in the league for ERA this season (3.78).
• The Texas Rangers ranks 1st in the league for hits this season (988).
• The Texas Rangers ranks 1st in the league for RBI's this season (580).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m sticking with the Padres. The line's probably too thick to mess with, though. Musgrove took a tough-luck loss his last time out, but he didn’t pitch too badly on three earned in 6.0 innings from seven hits and a walk. In his two starts prior, Musgrove bagged a collective 12.0 innings with just one earned on eight hits and one walk. As for Dunning, he’s been choppy lately. In two of his last three starts, Dunning has given up nine earned on 14 hits and four walks in 8.2 total innings during a pair of losses. San Diego has two or fewer runs in two of their last four games, but they should have some good opportunities for base-runners here.