Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Game 2 odds, picks and predictions
The Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros play Game 2 of the best-of-7 American League Championship Series Sunday. First pitch from Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 4:37 p.m. ET (FOX/FS1). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Astros odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
ALCS: Rangers lead 1-0
The Rangers kept up their winning ways on the road in this postseason. Texas posted a 2-0 win in Game 1 on Sunday evening in a well-pitched game, its 1st appearance in the ALCS round since 2011. The Rangers collected just 6 hits, but one of them was an unexpected solo HR from OF Leody Taveras in the 5th inning off of RHP Justin Verlander.
Texas saw LHP Jordan Montgomery bounce back from a shaky showing in the ALDS against Baltimore, twirling 6 1/3 scoreless IP. The Rangers are now 6-0 in the postseason, including 5-0 on the road.
Houston is in the ALCS for the 7th consecutive season. It managed just 5 hits against the southpaw Montgomery. It was a huge departure from a 3-game sweep in September when Houston overpowered Texas by a 39-10 margin, while belting 16 HR.
Rangers at Astros projected starters
RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. LHP Framber Valdez
Eovaldi made 25 starts in the regular season, going 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA. He had a 1.14 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 over 144 innings.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K in 7-1 home win vs. the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 of the ALDS last Tuesday
- 2023 road splits: 6-2, 3.56 ERA (78 1/3 IP, 31 ER), 6 HR in 13 starts
- Making his 9th career postseason start and 14th overall appearance
Valdez was 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA across 31 regular-season starts. He had a 1.13 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 in 198 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 5 K in 6-2 home loss vs. the Minnesota Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS
- 2023 home splits: 4-8, 3.35 ERA (102 IP, 38 ER), 7 HR in 16 starts in the regular season
- Making his 14th career postseason start and 15th overall appearance
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Rangers at Astros odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:17 a.m. ET.
Rangers at Astros picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Astros 3
The RANGERS (+110) are worth a look as short ‘dogs on the road, where they have been tremendously comfortable in the postseason so far.
Texas is also worth a look because of Valdez, who has actually had a lot more success on the road than he has in his home park this season. In fact, Valdez not only lost Game 2 against the Twins at Minute Maid Park, he has lost 4 straight starts at home, including the ALDS, last beating the Cleveland Guardians at MMP on Aug. 1 in his no-hitter.
The Rangers +1.5 (-198) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that’s a little too expensive for a little insurance. And, frankly, the way Texas has played in the postseason so far, you don’t need it.
AVOID, and roll with the visitors on the moneyline instead.
The UNDER 8.5 (-122) is a big number, especially after these Lone Star State rivals combined for just 2 runs in the series opener.
However, the final 4 meetings of the regular season ended up going Over, and the total went high in 6 of the final 7 meetings overall. But the postseason is a different animal. Monday’s game will see a lot more offense than the series opener, but it’ll still come under the total.
