Texas Rangers vs Minnesota Twins 7/9/22 MLB Picks, Predictions, Odds

Minnesota Twins (47-38) vs. Texas Rangers (37-43)
July 9, 2022 4:05 pm EDT
The Line: Texas Rangers -120 / Minnesota Twins +102 ; Over/Under: 8.5

The Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers meet Saturday in MLB action from Globe Life Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the Friday opener, the Rangers eked out one-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Minnesota played the White Sox this week, bagging two wins before a tough 9-8 loss Wednesday. On Friday versus the Rangers, the Twins posted 11 hits in a tough 6-5 defeat. Starter Sonny Gray went 4.2 innings with five earned on four hits and two walks. 

For the starter gig in the Saturday game, the Twins will send out Devin Smeltzer. In his 10 starts so far Smeltzer is 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA. Over 56.1 innings he has 19 earned on 46 hits and 12 walks with 34 Ks. 

Over on the Rangers’ side, they had no luck versus the Orioles this week, losing three straight one-run games. On Friday, Texas scored all their runs in the bottom of the fifth inning (and also posted three team errors). Jon Gray put up 5.1 frames in the start with three earned on nine hits and a walk. 

Martin Perez will take the mound for the Rangers on Saturday. In his 16 starts so far Perez is 7-2 with a 2.34 ERA. Over 100.0 innings he has 26 earned on 92 hits and 25 walks with 81 Ks. 

The Twins are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games and 8-3 in their last 11 road games versus a lefty starter. Minnesota is 10-4 in their last 14 in game two of a series.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are 5-1 in their last six Saturday games and 8-2 in the last 10 versus a lefty starter. Texas is 17-5 in their last 22 in game two of a series. 

PICK: I’m going to try the Rangers here. Perez is on a solid win streak right now; he’s got 18.2 innings over his last trio with seven earned on 20 hits and seven walks. As for Smeltzer, he’s done pretty well himself over his last three. Smeltzer has posted 18.0 innings in that time with four earned on 13 hits and one walk. We should have a fun matchup here and I like it to be a close game most of the way.