Texas Rangers (55-96) vs. Baltimore Orioles (48-103)
September 23, 2021 7:05 pm EDT
The Line: Baltimore Orioles -147 / Texas Rangers +110; Over/Under: +9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles meet Thursday in MLB action from Oriole Park. The Rangers are coming off a series versus the Yankees this week. Texas lost the first pair in that set, then on Wednesday the Rangers took a four-run loss. As for Baltimore, they played the Phillies in their last set. The Orioles split the first pair, and in the Wednesday rubber match Baltimore lost by one run. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Texas took a tough 4-3 loss to the Yankees in the Monday opener, then fell again 7-1 in the Tuesday matchup. In the Wednesday finale, the Rangers coughed up four in the eighth inning (and seven unanswered runs) on the way to a 7-3 defeat. Taylor Hearn lasted 5.1 innings with three earned, four hits and four walks.
For the starter gig in the Thursday game, the Rangers will send out Glenn Otto. In his four starts this year, Otto has an 0-2 record with a 9.37 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16.1 innings of work.
Over on the Orioles’ side, they managed a 2-0 shutout win over the Phillies Modnay but lost the Tuesday game two 3-2. In the Wednesday rubber match the O’s gave up 10 hits in a 4-3 loss. Keegan Akin put up one earned on five hits and one walk.
For the starting pitcher job in the Thursday opener, Baltimore will send out Zac Lowther. This year Lowther is 0-2 with a 9.61 ERA and 19 strikeouts.
The Rangers are 20-43 in their last 63 overall and 16-38 in their last 54 in game one of a series. Texas is 7-21 in their last 28 Thursday games as well.
Meanwhile, the Orioles are 31-64 in their last 95 versus the AL West and 24-54 in their last 78 at home. Baltimore is 13-38 in the last 51 overall and 42-111 in their last 153 in game one of a series.
PICK: I’m going to try the Orioles here. We don’t have a lot of numbers on Otto just yet, but he’s had some issues in his last two starts. In that pair, Otto has gone 0-2 with 15 earned runs on 15 hits and five walks over 6.2 innings of work. He’s probably not going to be out there for long; Texas would be fortunate to get past 4.0 innings with Otto. Baltimore should have some early opportunities to get on the scoreboard here if all goes well with Lowther and the rest of the staff.
