The Rangers make the trip to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers! The Rangers have been inconsistent this season and have struggled after winning the World Series, while the Dodgers have been one of the best teams in the MLB. Our MLB odds series has our Rangers-Dodgers prediction, odds, and pick for Thursday.

Rangers-Dodgers Projected Starters 

Michael Lorenzen vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Michael Lorenzen (3-3) with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP

Last Start: Pitched 4.1 innings and gave up two runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout in a Rangers loss.

2024 Road Splits: (3-1) 2.80 ERA

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2) with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP

Last Start: Pitched seven innings and gave up zero runs on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in a Dodgers win.

2024 Home Splits: (3-1) 3.86 ERA

Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Rangers-Dodgers Odds

Texas Rangers: +1.5 (-105)

Moneyline: +198

Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (-114)

Moneyline: -240

Over: 8 (-110)

Under: 8 (-110)

How to Watch Rangers vs. Dodgers

Time: 10:10 pm ET

TV: Bally Sports Southwest / Spectrum SportsNet

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Rangers Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Rangers have been inconsistent since winning the World Series last year on their way to a 31-35. They have dipped in batting average and are just outside the top 10 in the MLB, while their pitching has taken a dip and is now around the middle of the pack. This offense is led by sluggers Adolis Garcia, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Josh Smith. This offense is loaded overall. Their pitching needs to play better overall. Nathan Eovaldi has taken center stage on the mound this season, but Jon Gray and Michael Lorenzen have also been very good this season. The Rangers need to play better, but this should be difficult against the Dodgers.

The Rangers are starting Michael Lorenzen as a pitcher and he has a 3-3 record, a 3.05 ERA, and a 1.24 WHIP. Through 59 innings this season, he has allowed 20 runs on 45 hits with 28 walks and 45 strikeouts. Lorenzen has started in 10 games and the Rangers are 3-7 this season. Lorenzen has been solid on the mound this season in Texas. This is a very difficult matchup against the Dodgers and their high-powered offense this season.

The Rangers' offense has taken a dip recently. They are 14th in team batting average at .241 after finishing as one of the best in the MLB with a .263 batting average last year. The offense is led by Adolis Garcia, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Josh Smith in most batting categories. Smith leads in batting average at .286 and in OBP at .378. Then, Seager in home runs at 13, Garcia leads in RBI at 40, and Semien leads the way in total hits at 69. The Rangers' offense can match up with anyone in the MLB and they get a difficult matchup against Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound for the Dodgers.

Why The Dodgers Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Dodgers were the team that everyone was talking about before the season. They have a 42-26 record and have won four out of their last five games. Their offense and pitching are both currently top-five units in the MLB. On offense, there are stars galore with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Max Muncy. Their pitching is then led by Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and James Paxton on the mound.

The Dodgers are starting Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound where he has a 6-2 record, a 3.00 ERA, and a 1.07 WHIP. Through 72 innings, the Japanese phenom has allowed 25 runs on 61 hits with 16 walks and 83 strikeouts. The Dodgers are 8-5 in the 13 games that he has started in this season. Yamamoto has been great in his one season in the MLB so far. This is going to be difficult against the Rangers' offense behind the plate.

The Dodgers have the most talent on offense in the MLB, and they have a .258 batting average, which is third in the MLB. This is after they finished with a .257 batting average last year before all of the additions they made in the offseason. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernandez lead the way in most of the important batting categories. Hernandez leads in home runs at 17 and in RBI at 50. Betts leads in OBP at .412 and in hits at 82. Then, Ohtani leads the way in batting average at .312.

Final Rangers-Dodgers Prediction & Pick

The Rangers have the talent but have not been able to put it all together so far this season. Lorenzen is solid as a pitcher, but the Dodgers have the advantage across the board with the better offense right now and the better pitcher in Yamamoto. Expect this to be close, but the Dodgers are the better team and should win and cover at home.

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Final Rangers-Dodgers Prediction & Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-114)