To get things going again after the All-Star festivities, the Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins will cross paths for a matchup Thursday afternoon. This will be the only game these teams play until September.
The Rangers (41-49) will hope that the time off means that they were able to regroup, as they entered the break having lost six of eight to MLB teams, including a four-game sweep at the hands of red-hot Seattle.
Texas hasn’t gone above .500 yet this season and would like to take a page out of the Mariners’ book. As of right now, the Rangers are 17.5 games out of first place in the American League West.
Miami (43-48) wasn’t doing that well before the layoff, either. They were swept at home by Philadelphia by a combined 16-1 score.
Currently, they are in fourth place in the National League East, with 14 games separating them and the division-leading New York Mets.
MLB Stats for Tuesday
Taking a look at MLB players’ stats, the Marlins grade out in or near the bottom third of the bigs in terms of team batting average, RBIs, and home runs. Only two NL teams — Washington and Pittsburgh Pirates — have dented the scoreboard less.
While the crew isn’t particularly the best with the lumber, it doesn’t help that they’ve lacked patience, as well. Their 254 walks are the second-least in the Senior Circuit.
First baseman Garrett Cooper paces the order by hitting .283 and posting an on-base percentage of .349. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has chipped in with 14 homers and a team-high 45 runs driven in.
Other than Cooper, first baseman Jesus Aguilar is the only other regular swinging for an average better than .250. In South Beach, Aguilar is tops on the team with a .289 average.
Since last week, third baseman Joey Wendle leads the team with a .357 batting average over 14 plate appearances.
That being said, the rest of the lineup will still have to step it up if the Marlins want to make more of an impact at the dish, especially after the showing against Philly.
Marlins vs. Rangers Odds
In this one-off, odds MLB favor the guests to walk away with the win. Texas is -1.5 on the run line at +188, while the Marlins are -230 to cover the spread.
On the moneyline, the Rangers are -104 and Miami -112. The total has been set at seven runs, with the over being -110 and the under the same at the time of this writing.
The Texas Rangers are nearly in the same boat as their opponents when it comes to their offense. While they haven’t pinned up the greatest average, they do have some pop. Texas is tied for seventh in MLB with 117 dingers.
Rangers Lineup Breakdown
Seven different members of the lineup have piled up double-digit long balls, including shortstop Corey Seager, who has 22 to his credit.
Behind him are right fielder Adolis Garcia (15) and second baseman Marcus Semien (13). That trio also leads the pack in runs scored.
Seager is also topping the squad with 52 RBIs and a .324 on-base percentage. Garcia and Semien have helped by pushing a combined 94 runs across. It’s safe to say that, without these guys, Texas would be having a much rougher go of it.
First baseman Nathaniel Lowe has a .270 batting average. Away from DFW, he’s hit .329 in 40 games, which is the best of any Ranger with at least 100 at-bats.
Miami Marlins vs. Texas Rangers Betting Preview
Who Is Pitching for the Rangers?
On the mound for the visiting club will be Jon Gray, who has a 6-4 record and a 3.71 ERA over 16 starts. In six of his last seven outings, Texas has come out on top.
Most recently, against Oakland last Wednesday, he went seven frames, allowing only one hit and holding the Athletics scoreless.
That showing — albeit against one of baseball’s most hapless groups — looked to get Gray back on track after he’d given up nine earned runs in the two starts prior.
Since the start of last month, he’s been able to go at least six innings five times — four of which wound up being Rangers wins.
His team will hope that he can eat innings at that clip here, especially if trends show that Texas is doing well when he does.
The Rangers need a bit of a pick-me-up on the mound, as their collection of pitchers has compiled a 4.10 ERA so far.
Who Is Pitching for the Marlins?
Pablo Lopez, a 26-year-old righty, will oppose Gray for the Marlins. He also has a 6-4, while his 2.86 ERA and 1.07 WHIP are nothing to shrug off.
He’s done well at LoanDepot Park, putting up a 2.35 ERA at home thus far. Their 311 walks are the seventh-most at the top level.
Since the beginning of June, Miami has come out on the right side of six of his eight outings. In his last three combined — against the Pirates, Mets, and Washington Nationals — Lopez conceded eight knocks and four earned runs.
With a decision here, Lopez will have won more games this season than in any year before — all with a few months still to go on the MLB schedule.
As a whole, Miami’s staff of hurlers has been solid. With both a 3.78 ERA and .235 opponents batting average, it ranks near the top 10 in the major leagues.
Only four teams — each of which is in contention for playoff spots — have let up fewer hits.
Miami Marlins vs. Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions
These Rangers vs. Marlins odds will likely hinge on which pitcher can distinguish himself on the hill. Gray and Lopez have been effective, but it will also depend on which bullpen can quiet the other team’s hitters.
Texas is 4-0 in as many interleague road games with a losing record, and Gray hasn’t been beaten by a team that’s under .500 in his last four tries.
Neither of these marks will be extended, as the Rangers will drop their fifth in a row before they head across the country to Oakland.
Who to Bet On?
With these free MLB picks, make yourself some money by taking the host Marlins to win outright. This is a tilt between two pretty evenly-matched teams, but Lopez has done a superb job recently.
As long as he can keep the Rangers from going yard, expect that to hold true in this one.
MLB Pick: Rangers (-104)
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