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The Texas Rangers take on the New York Yankees in Game 2 of a doubleheader. Check out our MLB odds series for our Rangers Yankees prediction and pick.
Glenn Otto starts for the Rangers, while Jordan Montgomery gets the call for the Yankees.
Otto has a 2.89 ERA, but in only two starts encompassing 9 1/3 innings for Texas. It's hard to glean too much from nine innings of work, but Otto has been good in limited action for Texas. He isn't asked to pitch into the sixth or seventh inning. As long as he can contain damage and give his team a chance to win, he is doing his job, and the first two starts have been a complete success when viewed from that vantage point.
Jordan Montgomery has a 2.88 ERA. Unlike Otto, he has pitched since the start of the season and has logged 25 innings pitched. He has been very solid for the Yankees, though one word of caution is merited: He has pitched twice against the Orioles and once each against the light-hitting Tigers and impotent Red Sox. His most impressive start was his most recent one, in which he contained the Blue Jays in five innings, holding Toronto to just two runs.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Rangers-Yankees MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Rangers-Yankees Odds
Texas Rangers: +1.5 (-132)
New York Yankees: -1.5 (+110)
Over: 7.5 (-102)
Under: 7.5 (-120)
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Why The Rangers Could Cover the Spread
The first game of Sunday's doubleheader at Yankee Stadium has Gerrit Cole going for New York. If you make the logical assumption and predict that Cole will dominate Texas in Game 1, it stands to reason that facing Jordan Montgomery will be a lot easier than going up against Cole. The Rangers should take better swings, and they should get more hittable pitches against Montgomery. If Game 1 is likely to go to the Yankees, the Rangers have a solid chance of getting off to a good start in Game 2.
Even if the Rangers win Game 1, they could carry that momentum and confidence into Game 2, but having a tough time against Cole would actually set up Texas to do well in the nightcap of this twin bill. This is something to consider when making a Rangers Yankees prediction for the second half of this double dip.
What is also worth noting when formulating a Rangers Yankees pick is that Texas has won four games in a row. The Rangers contained the dangerous Philadephia Phillies and have been competitive even in the games they have lost. Their pitching has not been the disaster many people thought it would be.
Why The Yankees Could Cover the Spread
After a few days off due to rainouts, the Yankees get back to action in Sunday's doubleheader. If they might be rusty in Game 1, regardless of whether they win or lose, their bats should be a lot more in rhythm in Game 2. Glenn Otto is not an overpowering pitcher who should make the Yankees cower in fear, to put it mildly. The Yankees should love the pitching matchup here, especially since Jordan Montgomery has been steady and reliable for them.
Also, Texas is 10-14 entering Sunday's doubleheader. Despite a four-game winning streak, the Rangers are limited in a lot of ways. They picked up Marcus Semien and Corey Seager in the offseason, but their batting order still has lots of holes, and their rotation doesn't have a lot of high-end shutdown starters. The Yankees have the best record in the American League heading into Sunday. They own a lot more resources and options than the Rangers. The MLB odds favor the Yankees for a reason.
Final Rangers-Yankees Prediction & Pick
Regardless of what happens in Game 1, the Yankees are the far better team and should hit relatively well in Game 2. If the Yankees do lose Game 1, they become an even stronger favorite to win this game, since a Texas sweep is hugely unlikely.
Final Rangers-Yankees Prediction & Pick: Yankees -1.5
