Cincinnati at Texas MLB Free Picks

The Texas Rangers are the hottest team in baseball right now and have surged to the best record in the American League and a sizable lead in the AL West Division. They shouldn’t have much trouble Wednesday in an interleague matchup against the Cincinnati Reds, one of MLB’s worst clubs. And the Rangers are big favorites on betting lines. The Reds will be able to add the designated hitter.

Cincinnati Reds at Texas Rangers MLB Free Picks

When: Wednesday, June 22, 8:05 PM ET Where: Globe Life Park in Arlington Probable pitchers (away/home): Dan Straily/Cole Hamels TV: MLB Extra Innings Radio: MLB Media Center Opening MLB Lines: Rangers -200 (9)    

Reds at Rangers Game Background

Texas took a seven-game winning streak into Tuesday’s opener of this quick two-game set. The Rangers ran their club-record series win streak to 10 by rallying past Baltimore 4-3 on Monday night in a one-game set. That’s the longest run in the AL since the Tampa Bay Rays won 10 straight in 2013. Texas would need to win both games against the Reds for an 11th straight series win, something no team has done since the 2002 Oakland A’s. With Monday’s win, Texas is now 24-6 in its past 30 games. That ties the best 30-game stretch in franchise history set in July/August of 1977. For the MLB-leading eighth time this season, Texas came back from a three-run deficit to win on Monday. The Rangers had six such victories all of last season. The Reds started the year 17-35 and are a respectable 10-8 this month (entering Tuesday). The value for a lefty power hitter like Reds outfielder Jay Bruce and an All-Star caliber shortstop like Zack Cozart should be high approaching the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline. Both are likely to be traded as the Reds go with a full youth movement. The Reds have only played two series at Globe Life Park (2002, 2013), going 2-4 while losing both sets. Cincinnati starts Dan Straily, who also could be traded. Straily (4-3, 3.66) does come off perhaps his worst start of the year, allowing six runs and seven hits in just 4.1 innings in a loss at Atlanta. The journeyman righty has otherwise been a rock for the Reds this season, notching quality starts in seven of his 12 starts. The Rangers go with ace lefty Cole Hamels (7-1, 2.88). Hamels silenced the Cardinals on Friday, keeping them off the scoreboard for 7.2 innings while allowing just three hits and three walks. He struck out six in the 1-0 win. For the fourth straight outing, Hamels notched a quality start while pitching seven-plus innings, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since early June of last year. He is 9-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 14 career starts against the Reds. The Rangers are 6-1 in Hamels’ last 7 starts during game 2 of a series. They are 6-1 in Hamels’ last 7 home starts vs. a team with a losing record. Texas is 11-2 in Hamels’ last 13 home starts. It is 16-3 in Hamels’ last 19 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.

Expert Prediction

Go Rangers on the runline here and over the total on betting lines. The over is 6-2 in Hamels’ past eight starts.