The Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles meet Sunday in MLB playoffs action from Oriole Park. This will be the Game 2 in a best-of-five postseason Division Series. In the Saturday opener, the Rangers struck first with a close victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers had a great Wild Card series versus the Rays this past week, winning consecutive games 4-0 Tuesday and 7-1 on Wednesday to advance. In the Saturday opener versus the Orioles, Texas posted two runs in the fourth inning and never trailed in a solid 3-2 victory. Evan Carter (run), Jonah Heim and Josh Jung (home run) each provided one RBI along the way.
In the Game 2 starting pitcher slot, the Rangers will send out Jordan Montgomery. This year Montgomery went 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts. In his first postseason start this year Montgomery posted a win with 7.0 clean innings and five Ks.
Texas Rangers Team Facts
The Rangers have won each of their last seven games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Rangers’ last 11 games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rangers’ last eight games as underdogs.
The Rangers have led after 7 innings in each of their last 12 games against AL East opponents.
The Rangers have led after 5 innings in each of their last 10 road games against AL East opponents that held a winning record.
Baltimore Orioles
Over on the Orioles’ side, they had a great regular season in 2023, powering out a 101-61 overall record in a tough American League East and winning the division. In Saturday’s opener matchup, Baltimore couldn’t get much going on five team hits. Anthony Santander posted two hits, two runs and a solo homer as the offensive standout, and Ryan Mountcastle added the other RBI.
It’ll be Grayson Rodriguez in the starting role for the Orioles on Sunday. This year in his rookie campaign Rodriguez went 7-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 23 starts. Over his last seven outings Rodriguez is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 43 Ks in 41.0 frames.
Baltimore Orioles Team Facts
The underdogs have won 10 of the last 11 games between the Rangers and Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the last 11 games between the Rangers and Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Orioles’ last four games.
The Orioles have trailed after 7 innings in four of their last six games as home favorites against AL West opponents.
The Orioles have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last six games as home favorites against AL West opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
The Baltimore Orioles rank 3rd in the league for doubles this season (309).
The Baltimore Orioles rank T4th in the league for home runs allowed this season (177).
The Texas Rangers rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (1470).
The Texas Rangers rank 2nd in the league for doubles this season (326).
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll stick with the Orioles in this one—provided Baltimore can get the bats going. We’ll have a great starter matchup regardless, though. Rodriguez is 1-0 over his last three starts with just three earned in 18.2 total innings. Montgomery has done well lately also; he finished off the regular season with just two earned runs in 20.0 total innings and pitched great against the Rays on Tuesday (7.0 innings; zero walks; zero earned; six hits; five Ks). In Saturday’s opener, Baltimore got a pretty nice bullpen performance from five different pitchers totaling 4.1 innings, one hit, one earned, four walks and seven strikeouts. The offense only provided one hit after the sixth inning however. I like Baltimore to come around at the plate in Game 2 to even the series before heading out to Globe Life Field; it should be another competitive matchup.
