Philadelphia At Texas MLB Winning Favorites

It is often said that MLB games played in the first couple of months of the season don’t really mean much in the grand scheme of things, but I tend to disagree. While a slow start during this period is no guarantee that your season is over, it is possible to dig a hole so deep that you spend the rest of the season trying to claw your way out. The Texas Rangers were chosen by many to be the potential winners of the AL West, but the opening couple of months to their season has been a bit of a horror show.

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The worst seems to be behind them now, but they still have some work to do to get back into the position where we all expected them to be. They will close out a positive home stand with the final game of a 3-game series versus the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday afternoon. The Phillies, not unexpectedly, have issues of their own, and could use a positive end to what has been a poor run of form of late.

In Depth Analysis On The Phillies At Rangers MLB Winning Favorites

When: Thursday, May 18 at 2:05 PM EST Where: Globe Life Park, Arlington Starting Pitchers: Nick Pivetta Vs Andrew Cashner TV: CSN-P, FSSW Radio: 94 WIP, 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270 Live Stream: MLB.TV MLB Odds: Texas Rangers Moneyline -165    

Why bet on the Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies (14-22) started the season poorly, and have done nothing since to suggest that things are going to change. They have lost 6 straight series, and are on pace to make it 7 after losing the opening game of the series to the Texas Rangers. While they have managed to maintain a .500 record in their own ball park, the road has not been so kind. The Phillies are 6-14 away from home, and are just 1-5 in this current road trip. Philadelphia are not totally awful offensively, but they are getting very little help from their pitching staff, especially the starters, who have this team in 26th in quality starts. The Phillies will hand the ball to Nick Pivetta (0-2, 6.14 ERA) for his 4th start of the season.

Why bet on the Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers (20-20) are the perfect example of why you should never count a team out after just a couple of months of the regular season. After losing to the San Diego Padres a little over a week ago, the Rangers found themselves 7 games under .500 and at the basement of the AL West. Since then, Texas have won 7-straight games, outscoring their opponents 42-17 in the process. They look to be back in business, but still have 8 games to make up on the Houston Astros atop the division. The Rangers are starting to turn their home field into a fortress, and now sit at 14-8 at home. Andrew Cashner (0-3, 2.43 ERA) will start on Thursday afternoon.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Andrew Cashner may still be looking for his first win of the season, but he has not pitched poorly. He has had little to no run support in his starts, but with the bats suddenly hot, that should change.

Philadelphia Phillies 1 Texas Rangers 6