The Rangers and Diamondbacks are both battling to stay close in their respective playoff races, heading into the first game of a quick two-game interleague series Tuesday night in Arlington. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Tuesday’s MLB betting odds opened Texas at around -165 over Arizona, with an over/under of 10 runs. Early betting action then dipped that line down to -160.
Diamondbacks vs. Rangers Set-Up
Arizona just lost two of three games at St. Louis over the weekend, losing Sunday’s series rubber match 5-2. The Diamondbacks then had Monday off.
Just before the All-Star break, Arizona swept three games from Colorado. So the D’Backs are 4-2 over their last six games.
At 47-47 overall Arizona trails the division-leading Dodgers by 15 games in the NL West, but it’s also only one game behind St. Louis and Philadelphia in the battle for the second National League wild-card spot.
Texas, meanwhile, just split four games at home with Houston over the weekend, winning the first two but losing the last two, including a 12-4 decision Sunday. The Rangers then also had Monday off.
Just before the All-Star break Texas lost two of three games to Minnesota; just before that the Rangers lost two of three to the Angels; and just before that they lost two of three to Tampa Bay. So Texas is only 4-8 over its last 12 games.
At 50-44 overall the Rangers trail the first-place Astros by 8.5 games in the AL West, but they’re also only three games behind Cleveland and Oakland in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot.
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season; they split two games back in April in Phoenix.
Tuesday’s Starting Arms
Lynn, by our stringent standards, is 12/19 on quality starts this season and working on a run of three in a row. Last Thursday he held Houston scoreless on six hits through seven innings, with 11 strikeouts, in a 5-0 Texas victory. And over his last three starts, he’s allowed just two runs and 18 hits through 22 innings, with 26 whiffs against only three walks.
Texas is 13-6 with Lynn this season, 5-0 over his last five starts.
In his most recent start against the Diamondbacks, back in April of this season, Lynn allowed just one runs and four hits, with nine K’s, through six frames of a 5-2 Rangers victory.
Rookie lefty Young posted a 6.09 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP down at Triple-A Reno earlier this summer, but he got the call-up anyway, and he’s been great so far at this level. In his ML debut three weeks ago he held San Francisco to one run through five innings. A few days later he tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Dodgers. And nine days ago he threw six innings of no-hit ball against Colorado in a 5-3 Arizona win.
So through his first 13 1/3 ML innings, he’s allowed one run and three hits, with nine strikeouts and two walks.
The Diamondbacks are 2-0 in Young’s starts.
With this start being Young’s first-ever appearance against Texas could give him an edge, at least for the first couple of times through the lineup.
Tuesday’s Batting Splits
Arizona is batting .246/.315/.420 against right-handed pitching this season.
Texas is batting .233/.307/.416 against left-handed pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The D’Backs bullpen owns a 4.35 ERA this season and a 1.34 WHIP while allowing a .746 OPS.
The Rangers pen owns a 4.71 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP while allowing an .800 OPS.
Totals Report
- Totals are split 45-45 in Diamondbacks games this season.
- Unders are 47-45 in Rangers games this season.
- Unders are 26-24 in games played at Globe Life Park this season, even though Rangers home games are averaging 10.8 runs per, fifth-most in among all ML ballparks. Obviously, oddsmakers are posting some big numbers on Texas home games.
- Unders are a combined 14-7 when Lynn and Young start this season.
- Get more details: Arizona at Texas MLB Match-up Stats
