How’s this for a wild statistic: The Arizona Diamondbacks won their first five games on Tuesdays this season … and haven’t won a single one on the day since. They look to avoid a 10-game Tuesday losing streak in an interleague series opener Tuesday at Texas, which is solidly favored on the MLB Odds behind ace Lance Lynn.
How to Bet Diamondbacks vs Rangers MLB Week 16 Odds & Game Info
- When: Tuesday, 8:05 PM ET
- Where: Globe Life Park in Arlington
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Alex Young/Lance Lynn
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 105.3 The Fan
- MLB Week 16 Odds: Texas Rangers -165 (Total 10)
Reds vs Cubs MLB Odds, Preview & Expert Pick
Why Bet on Arizona?
The D-backs split a 2-game set vs. Rangers on April 9-10. The D-backs are 16-23 all-time vs. Rangers, 7-13 on the road. The Snakes are back to .500 at 47-47 after dropping the final two games of their series in St. Louis over the weekend. There’s some talk the team will be a seller ahead of the July 31 trade deadline and want to dump ace Zack Greinke. He’s having a great year but loves to get out from the $64 million remaining on his contract after this season, and some of the $31.5 million he’s earning in 2019. He has been superb this year, but with his bloated salary, and 15 teams on his no-trade list, any trade will be complicated.
Second baseman Wilmer Flores, out since May with a fractured foot, is nearing a return from the injured list, a development that would give the Diamondbacks too many options for too few positions on their infield. Manager Torey Lovullo said Flores will transition to Triple-A Reno and could be an option to come off the injured list in time for the upcoming homestand, which starts on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Flores would join an infield that already has Jake Lamb, Eduardo Escobar, and Christian Walker as options at first base, second base, and third base.
Escobar’s 68 RBI are tied for fourth in the NL and are 6 shy of his 73 in 2017 and 16 shies of his career-best 84 RBI last season. His 5.24 at-bats per RBI ratio is 11th in the NL (the leader is Josh Bell/PIT at 4.12). His 5.24 at-bats per RBI ratio is the eighth-best by a Dbacks member in a season (the leader is Luis Gonzalez/2001 at 4.29). Carson Kelly leads all Major League catchers since May 4 in on-base pct. (.408), slugging pct. (.613) and OPS (1.021) and is second in average (.306). The D-backs are 1 of 7 teams with 7 players with 25+ extra-base hits, along with the Red Sox, Rockies, Twins, Phillies, Rays, and Rangers. the Dodgers have 8.
It’s lefty Alex Young on the mound. He’s making his fourth career appearance, third start. In 2 starts, he is 2-0 with 0.82 ERA (1 ER in 11.0 IP), .086 average (3-for-35) and 8 strikeouts (2 walks). Young tossed 6.0 hitless, scoreless innings (1 BB, 3 K) in a 5-3 win vs. Rockies on July 7 and won his MLB debut on June 27, 5-1 @ Giants.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.02
- Hits: 9.05
- Walks: 3.04
- Strike Outs: 8.49
- Runs: 4.49
- Hits: 8.49
- Walks: 3.18
- Strike Outs: 8.69
Why Bet on Texas?
Texas has gone 8-7 in Interleague play this season, winning 3 of 4 and 5 of 7 since the end of a 3-game skid. The Rangers have gone 4-4 vs. senior circuit opponents at Globe Life Park.
The Rangers are likely to activate All-Star designated hitter Hunter Pence from the injured list on Tuesday. The 36-year-old was tearing it up before a groin injury shelved him in mid-June, slashing an impressive .294/.353/.608 with 15 homers and 48 RBI over 194 at-bats for Texas. According to Statcast, his hard-hit rate has jumped seven percentage points to 45.9 from last season to this one, and his average exit velocity is in the 94th percentile. Pence is one of their more attractive trade chips should the Rangers decide to sell.
Danny Santana is batting .348/.371/.674/1.045 with 5 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 18 R, and 4 SB over his last 27 games. Among A.L. batters with at least 95 PA since 6/8, Santana ranks among the leaders in OPS (7th), SLG (7th), and triples (T2nd).
It’s Lance Lynn on the mound. Lynn (12-4) picked up the win after allowing six hits and two walks while striking out 11 over seven scoreless innings Thursday night against the Astros. Pitching for the first time in seven days, he threw a first-pitch strike to just four of the first 10 batters and needed 59 pitches over the first three innings, which included working out jams in the second and third frames. Lynn eventually righted himself, throwing a first-pitch strike to 18 of the final 19 batters faced and dispatching the Astros on 51 pitches over the final four innings. The 32-year-old right-hander continues to throw the ball well, as he’s now given up just two earned runs over his last three outings (22 innings), and he’s managed to collect five straight victories.
Lynn faced the D-backs on April 10 in Arizona and held them to one run over six innings in a 5-2 victory. He is 6-0 with a 2.80 ERA in 10 career starts and two relief appearances against them. He has won his past four starts vs. Arizona. Lynn’s 12 wins already match the Rangers’ individual high from 2018 (12 by Mike Minor). Lynn is 5-0, 2.00 (8 ER/36.0 IP) in last 5 starts to lower ERA from 4.40 to 3.69, 15th in the A.L.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.41
- Hits: 8.66
- Walks: 3.54
- Strike Outs: 10.07
- Runs: 5.19
- Hits: 9.35
- Walks: 3.52
- Strike Outs: 8.50
Diamondbacks vs Rangers MLB Week 16 Betting Trends
- Diamondbacks are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter
- Rangers are 4-0 in Lynn’s last 4 home starts
- Diamondbacks are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona’s last 5 games this season
- Rangers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the National League
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas’ last 5 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Diamondbacks vs Rangers
Diamondbacks 4 – Texas Rangers 7
