Max Scherzer Starting Pitcher Texas

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros Game 7 Preview & Pick

By Darin Zank
Date: 23/10/2023 8:00 pm
Location: Minute Maid Park
TV: Fox

Betting Odds



Moneyline: Texas Rangers +115 / Houston Astros -125
Total: 9.5

ALCS Game 7 Overview

The American League championship series comes down to one game Monday night in Houston. Texas won the first two games of this ALCS in Houston; the Astros then won the next three games in Arlington; and the Rangers then won Game 6 Sunday back at Minute Maid Park. So the visiting team is 6-0 in this series.

Pitching Match-Up

This pitching match-up is a rematch of Game 3 of this series, an 8-5 Houston win.

Christian Javier hits the hill for Houston here against hired gun Max Scherzer for Texas.

Javier is making his third start of this postseason. First, he held Minnesota scoreless on one hit through five innings of a 9-1 Astros victory. Then last Wednesday, he held Texas to two runs and three hits through 5 2/3 innings and picked up the win. Houston played 21-10 with Javier during the regular season, and they’re 2-0 with him this postseason.

Over two starts this season against Texas, Javier allowed 10 ER and 12 hits through 10 innings. Thanks to some good run support, the Astros won both those games.

Scherzer is making his second start of this postseason. Last Wednesday, he got touched for five runs through five innings and took the loss. Before that, Scherzer was out for a month dealing with a sore shoulder. Texas played 6-3 with Scherzer after getting him in that deadline trade with the Mets, but they’re 0-1 with him this postseason.

Over three starts this season against the Astros, Scherzer allowed 13 runs and 15 hits through 15 innings. His teams lost two of those three games.

Splits With the Sticks

Texas batted .261 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .334 team OBP and a .456 team slugging percentage.

Houston slashed .254/.328/.423 against right-handed pitching.

The Bullpens

The Astros bullpen posted a 3.56 ERA this season, along with a 1.27 WHIP and a 2.70 K/BB ratio.

The Rangers pen put up a 4.77 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a 2.76 K/BB ratio.

MLB Betting Trends

Texas only played 40-41 on the road this season and 62-56 against right-handed starters.

Houston played just 39-42 at home and 62-51 against right-handed starters.

Totals Report

The overs played 81-69 in Rangers games this season.

The overs played 83-74 in Astros games.

The overs played 46-33 at Minute Maid Park this season.

The overs are 12-4 in Rangers-Astros games this season.

Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros Betting Pick for Game 7

Despite the outcome last Wednesday, we give Scherzer the edge in the pitching match-up. From there, we give Texas the edge in the splits with the sticks, while Houston owns the better bullpen. So, from what we can tell, the wrong team might be favored here. The visiting team is a perfect 6-0 in this ALCS, and the underdog is 5-1. We like the betting value with the Rangers catching the underdog price for this Game 7.

Free Pick: Take Texas +115
Bovada

SOLID 50% BONUS - UP TO $250 FREE!

MLB Free Picks

Bet on Starting Pitcher Value With MLB Five-Inning Lines

Bet on Starting Pitcher Value With MLB Five-Inning Lines

Similar to betting the first half of an NFL football game, an MLB five-inning line covers the first half of action in a baseball game. Since baseball betting lines, in general, are heavily weighted on each team's starting pitcher, their impact on the game's outcome...

Betting MLB Dime Lines at Select Online Sportsbooks

Betting MLB Dime Lines at Select Online Sportsbooks

Baseball is back on the betting board at your favorite online sportsbook. One of the most popular ways to bet on the games is by using the posted money line odds. An MLB money line handicaps the straight-up result for a game by increasing the financial risk to bet on...

Betting MLB Win Totals

Betting MLB Win Totals

One of the most popular betting props ahead of any MLB regular seasons is on the odds for each team’s projected win total. Given that the schedule covers 162 games, there can be a rather wide margin of error in any projected total. Going through the list of each MLB...

Betting the OVER/UNDER on MLB Props for Home Runs and Total Wins

Betting the OVER/UNDER on MLB Props for Home Runs and Total Wins

With spring training underway for all 30 MLB teams, there is a renewed interest in betting the posted props for individual player performances in the regular season. Options like which slugger hits the most home runs and which ace has the most wins are fun and...

Betting the OVER/UNDER on MLB Props for Home Runs and Total Wins

Betting Value in 2020 MLB World Series Futures

Spring training is underway as preparations for a new MLB season take place in the Grapefruit League throughout Florida and the Cactus League in the southern part of Arizona. Opening Day is about a month away at the end of March. While all 30 teams are working towards...

BEST SPORTSBOOK BONUSES

Stop wasting money! Start receiving at 30% Rebate at Betanysports

YES! There are still online sportsbooks where your credit card will work! You get a 50% bonus as well! –> Bovada

Deposit $100 to $1000 and get a MASSIVE 50% Sign-on bonus! MyBookie