Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions

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.

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

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.

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Rangers at Rays picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 4, Rays 3

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.

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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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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