Another edition of an epic American League clash is in store as the Cleveland Guardians battle it out with the Texas Rangers. Join us for our MLB odds series where our Guardians-Rangers prediction and pick will be unveiled for all to see.

After a dominant 7-0 beat down over the Rangers, the Guardians are back for more. With the recent victory, it is Cleveland that improved its record to 26-16 which is good enough for the top spot in the AL Central. Getting the start for this third and final game of the series will be veteran hurler Carlos Carrasco who is 2-3 with a 5.36 ERA on the season.

It has been a brutal stretch as of late for the Rangers, but let's not forget that the champs won't go down easy. Without a doubt, Texas is licking its wounds at this point of the season, but they are bafflingly only 1.5 games back of the Seattle Mariners. for first place in the AL West. Responsible for getting his team back in the win column is projected to be righty Jon Gray. Last time out, he tossed a masterful six innings en route to striking out seven hitters despite losing to the Colorado Rockies. Can Gray string together back-to-back solid outings?

Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Guardians-Rangers Odds

Cleveland Guardians: +1.5 (-162)

Moneyline: +128

Texas Rangers: -1.5 (+134)

Moneyline: -152

Over: 9 (-110)

Under: 9 (-110)

How to Watch Guardians vs. Rangers

Time: 8:05 ET/5:05 PT

TV: MLB.TV

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Guardians Will Cover The Spread/Win

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The name of the Guardians game has been an offense that hasn't been afraid to miss a beat. Thanks to their recent uptick in offensive production, the Guardians now own the seventh-highest-scoring offense in all of baseball with 202 runs scored.

Furthermore, Cleveland is getting some standout performances from the unlikeliest of heroes. Over the last couple of seasons, first baseman Josh Naylor has become a reliable name in the heart of the Guardians lineup and he is beginning to take his game to the next level. Not only is the 26-year-old slugger leading the team with his 11 home runs, but he also ranks eighth in the majors with 30 RBIs. Time and time again, Naylor has proven he is worthy of being a star level hitter at this level of baseball. Whether or not he can continue down the path of this torrid pace remains to be seen, but he has been a revelation for Cleveland's offense to say the least.

Pitching-wise, Cleveland is also up to snuff. With a guy like Carrasco on the mound, it is easy to believe that a veteran of his expertise has the capability to shut down a slumping Rangers team. When looking at the bigger picture, the 37-year-old has been inconsistent between starts, but if the Guardians are going to cover, then they will need Carrasco to be at his absolute best.

Why The Rangers Will Cover The Spread/Win

At some point, one would believe that the Rangers are going to snap out of their funk, but Texas has to tighten the screws in many areas of the game for that to happen.

For starters, the Rangers' once strong pitching ways have evaporated into thin air. Over the span where the Rangers have lost five of six games, Texas has given up a total of 42 runs which is simply unacceptable for a team that is coined as the defending champions. Overall, the Rangers team-ERA sits at 4.19 which ranks as the 19th-best mark in the game. While this is not dreadful, their recent pitching efforts have been. With Gray on the mound in this one, there is a good chance that he will be able to turn the tide for the arms of this club moving forward. If he can string together a quality outing, then Texas will be in a good position to cover the spread versus Cleveland.

If all else fails, be on the lookout for middle infielder Marcus Semien to continue his stellar stretch with the bat in his hands. In his last three games, Semien has gone 4 for 12 (.333) at the dish. If the Rangers are going to rid themselves of their recent poor play, then Semien is going to need to be a thorn in the side of the Guardians.

Final Guardians-Rangers Prediction & Pick

Is this the game where the Rangers finally get back on track? Only time will tell, but their recent play is not encouraging. With that being said, it is probably wise to side with the Guardians.

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Final Guardians-Rangers Prediction & Pick: Guardians +1.5 (-162)