Rays vs. Rangers Odds, Analysis, and Betting Prediction

It’s a potential American League playoff preview on Monday night when the East-leading Tampa Bay Rays visit the West-leading Texas Rangers. Tampa Bay is favored on the MLB odds behind ace and Cy Young contender Shane McClanahan.

Tampa Bay vs. Texas | 2023 MLB Expert Analysis

How to Bet Rays at Rangers MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Monday, 8:05 PM ET
Where: Globe Life Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Shane McClanahan/Dane Dunning
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Rays -125, Rangers +115 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on Tampa Bay?

This begins a stretch of five consecutive series against clubs with a record of .500 or better the Rays, who are 10-5-2 in series play against teams that entered with a .500+ record, going 33-21 (.611) in those games. But they have lost their past two (vs. Phillies and Braves).

The Rays won two of three at home vs. Texas from June 9-11. Tampa Bay is 2-1 out of the All-Star break but comes off an ugly 8-4 loss at terrible Kansas City on Sunday. Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer and Francisco Mejía hit a three-run drive for the AL-best Rays (60-36) in the loss.

Paredes is up to four home runs across seven games in July and sits second on the team and fourth among AL third basemen with 17 total. The 24-year-old is setting career-best batting numbers this year while in a near-everyday role, slashing .261/.364/.504 with 30 extra-base hits, 56 RBI, 43 runs and a 33:55 BB:K in 309 plate appearances.

Tampa Bay played the series without All-Star infielder Yandy Diaz as he was on the paternity list. Díaz had a hectic week, flying late last Monday night to be in Seattle for his first All-Star Game, then homering off Mitch Keller in his first at-bat before flying home late Tuesday night and welcoming his first son, also named Yandy, on Wednesday. Diaz should be in there Monday.

It’s ace lefty Shane McClanahan (11-1, 2.53) on the mound as he will be activated off the injured list. His mid-back tightness first became an issue in his June 22 start against the Royals, but he was able to start in Seattle on June 30. However, he was limited to only three innings in that outing and went on the 15-day IL the next day. McClanahan had been expected to come off the IL when eligible on Sunday in Kansas City, but Friday’s rainout shuffled Tampa Bay’s pitching plans, pushing him back to Monday.

“I’m excited to see what (Monday) brings,” McClanahan said Sunday morning. “I’m going to stay ahead of it, no matter what. I incorporated some [maintenance work] from this into my normal routine, and hopefully continuing to do that allows me to put myself in the best possible situation.”

McClanahan had his first career start opposite Texas earlier this season on June 11 and earned the win after throwing 7.0 innings, scattering three runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts.

Bet Rays to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why Bet on Texas?

Texas has been alone or tied atop the AL West Division for 108 of the season’s first 109 days, with only April 8 the exception.

The Rangers were struggling a bit entering the All-Star break but finished a three-game home sweep of Cleveland on Sunday with a 6-5 win. Josh Jung’s two-run single capped a four-run eighth inning on Sunday. All four runs in the inning came off Trevor Stephan, who walked Marcus Semien and Corey Seager with one out before giving up an RBI single to Nathaniel Lowe, an RBI double to Adolis Garcia and a single to Jung. Will Smith pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 16th save in 18 opportunities.

Texas entered Sunday 0-for-27 when trailing after seven innings this year but has now won three consecutive games for the first time since June 17-19. It swept a three-game series for the first time since June 2-4 against Seattle. The club is now 3-6-1 in the last 10 series following a stretch of 6 straight series victories from 5/19-6/7, longest span for the team since a club-record 10 straight series victories from 5/20-6/20/16. The club is 18-10-2 overall in series this year, going 9-4-2 at home and 9-6-0 on the road.

The Rangers have recorded at least one double in 23 straight games (beginning June 18), the longest active doubles streak in MLB and the team’s longest since 23 straight in 2019. The Rangers 201 doubles are second in the majors.

It’s right-hander Dane Dunning on the mound. Dunning (8-2) took the loss in his last start on July 9, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Nationals. He struck out four. Though Dunning had an impressive first half of 2023, he struggled against one of baseball’s worst teams, tying his season high in runs allowed and failing to finish six innings for the first time since June 17.

Dunning has lasted at least 5.0 innings in all 12 starts this season, with no more than 3 ER allowed in 10 of 12 GS. His 2.84 ERA (29 ER/92.0 IP) is 4th-lowest in A.L. and 8th-lowest in MLB among pitchers with 90.0+ IP this season. Dunning has gone 5-0, 2.89 (14 ER/43.2 IP) in 9 G/5 GS at home this season, including 4-0, 3.45 (12 ER/31.1 IP) in the 5 starts.

Dunning has no record and nine shutout innings over two games career against the Rays, starting Texas losses on 4/12/21 at TB (1-0 loss) and 6/6/21 at Globe Life Field (7-1 loss).

Bet Rangers to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Expert Prediction

Rangers 5, Rays 4

W: Wins | L: Losses | %: Winning Percentage | GB: Games Behind | STRK: Current Streak | HOME: Record at Home | AWAY: Record When Away

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