Rangers and MLB betting News: Cody Bradford debuts

It’s a matchup of division leaders from Arlington on Monday night as the surprising Texas Rangers, who lead the AL West by four games, host the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, who enter on a four-game winning streak. Tonight will be the MLB debut of Texas pitching prospect Cody Bradford, but the Braves are favored on the MLB odds.

MLB Betting News: Rangers’ Cody Bradford Set For MLB Debut Vs. Braves Monday

When: May 15, at 8:05 pm ET
Where: Globe Life Field, Darlington, TX
TV / Streaming: MLB.tv

Texas (25-15) enters having won seven of nine following an 11-3 win in Oakland on Sunday. Adolis García went 3-for-5 with a homer, double and five RBIs and Robbie Grossman went 3-for-5 with a homer, double and three RBIs. Garcia is up to 10 long balls, 42 RBI, 30 runs scored, three stolen bases and six doubles while slashing .255/.318/.497 through 39 contests. Grossman has five extra-base hits over his last five contests, a span in which he’s gone 7-for-24 (.292). For the season, he’s slashing .246/.301/.418 with five homers, 21 RBI, 22 runs scored and six doubles over 33 games.

It’s not clear if outfielder Josh Smith will be ready for Monday. Smith was hit on the left foot Saturday and was removed from the game. Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Smith was “pretty banged up” and held him out of Sunday’s series finale against the Athletics. Bochy added there’s a chance former All-Star shortstop Corey Seager could be activated for Monday’s game. He has been out weeks with a hamstring injury but played three rehab games at Double-A Frisco before getting Sunday off. He should return at some point in this series if not tonight.

First baseman/DH has a 13-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors. Lowe was the 1st MLB batter with multiple hit streaks of 11+ games this year and has reached safely via H/BB in 17 straight games.

But the lefty Bradford is the story tonight. Dane Dunning and Nathan Eovaldi will both be pushed back a day as the Rangers look to give their arms an extra day of rest after a long road trip. A sixth-round pick in 2019, Bradford has been outstanding in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with a 0.91 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB over 39.2 innings across seven starts. Bradford was the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April. He was supposed to take the ball for Round Rock on Sunday, but was scratched before the game.

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Bradford is coming off a 2022 season in which he pitched for Double-A Frisco and went 10-7 with a 5.01 ERA in 26 starts. He walked 33 and struck out 124 and helped the RoughRiders to a Texas League title. Bradford has below-average fastball velocity but generates extension so it plays a little bit better than the velocity reading would indicate. He’s got a good changeup. He uses that often against both right-handers and left-handers. But specifically against right-handers to keep those guys off balance to dip below the swing path, generate some swing and miss and soft contact with that.

Charlie Morton (4-3) starts for Atlanta. Morton (4-3) picked up the win last Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in a 9-3 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out seven. The veteran right-hander racked up 33 called or swinging strikes among his 100 pitches as he delivered his fourth quality start in his last five outings. Morton has alternated wins and losses to begin the season and has issued multiple walks in all seven of his starts, but the 39-year-old has a 3.32 ERA and 39:17 K:BB through 40.2 innings.

Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna leads the NL in hits (54), total bases (90), runs scored (36), stolen bases (17), OBP (.437) and OPS (1.014) while also ranking 2nd in AVG (.346). Atlanta’s 15 wins on the road are their most through 21 games since moving to Atlanta in 1966, despite losing their last three road games.

Atlanta is batting .200/.309/.333 with the bases loaded this season, with just three extra-base hits. The Braves have grounded into three double plays in such situations, tied for third most in the majors. The Braves’ 55 plate appearances with the bases loaded are the most in baseball, however their 35 runs scored are tied for seventh.

Texas is 13-11 all-time vs. Atlanta, winning 2 straight and 9 of the last 12. Since going 0-6 in the first two meetings in 2002-03, the Rangers are 13-5 and have won each of the last 6 series between the clubs.

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