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The Texas Rangers are set to face the Miami Marlins this weekend. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our MLB odds series, which includes our Rangers-Marlins prediction and pick we have laid out below.
The Texas Rangers have mostly been treading water this season, ending the first half at 41-49, 17 games behind the AL West-leading Houston Astros. Despite a huge offseason with the additions of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, Texas has yet to take that next step forward. Continuing their trend of shocking the baseball world, Texas picked Kumar Rocker third overall in Sunday's draft, flipping the first round on its head.
Like Texas, the Miami Marlins have merely been okay this season, hitting the All-Star break at 43-48 on the backs of their strong pitching staff. Miami seems to have emerged from a perennial rebuild this decade, making the playoffs in 2020 for the first time since 2003.
Here are the Rangers-Marlins MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Rangers-Marlins Odds
Texas Rangers: -1.5 (+168)
Miami Marlins: +1.5 (-205)
Over: 7 (-104)
Under: 7 (-118)
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Why The Rangers Could Cover The Spread
Jon Gray, another offseason addition for Texas, is on the mound to begin the second half of their season. Gray has been solid this season, owning a 6-4 record with a 3.71 ERA, striking out 100 batters in 89.1 innings.
Offensively, Texas is tied for seventh with 117 home runs but otherwise produces at a middling rate with a team slash line at .233/.299/.399. Corey Seager has lived up to his big-ticket contract, smashing 22 home runs with a .804 OPS. As a team, Texas has bucked the recent downward trend on stolen bases, ranking second in baseball with 74 stolen bases.
Behind Gray, Brock Burke (1.15 ERA, 9.4 K/9) and Matt Moore (1.73 ERA, 10 K/9) have led an otherwise average bullpen, although closer Joe Barlow owns a 3.26 ERA and 13 saves. Some combination of Gray, Burke, Moore, and Barlow are capable of shutting down a lineup, while Texas has enough power in their lineup to give their pitchers breathing room.
Why The Marlins Could Cover The Spread
At the plate, Miami has largely disappointed this season, ranking 26th with a .681 OPS. The lone bright spot at the plate is Jazz Chisholm, who has hit a team-leading 15 home runs with a .254/.325/.535 slash line. Chisholm is one of the most electrifying players in baseball but is lacking in peers amongst the Marlins lineup, as power hitters Jorge Soler and Jesus Aguilar have not lived up to their past performances.
Pitching has been a different story for Miami, with Sandy Alcantara (1.76 ERA, 0.90 WHIP) and Pablo Lopez (2.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) dominating thus far. Anthony Bass (1.36 ERA) has led a bullpen that otherwise has struggled. Miami leans on the strength of their pitching, with a 3.78 ERA slightly inflated due to bullpen struggles.
Miami will have to limit the power of Texas' lineup, something they have been able to do as a pitching staff this season. Pablo Lopez has neutralized lineups all season, allowing just a .210 batting average against.
Final Rangers-Marlins Prediction & Pick
This is a strong pitching matchup between two pretty bland offenses. Expect an enticing pitcher's duel with little offense mixed in.
Final Rangers-Marlins Prediction & Pick: Marlins +1.5 (-205), under 7 (-118)
