The Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Guardians meet Friday in MLB action from Progressive Field. Here’s a Cleveland Guardians vs Texas Rangers prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Guardians vs Rangers pick.
Texas Rangers Betting Preview
The Rangers played the Pittsburgh Pirates in their last series. Texas won 4-3 in the Monday game but fell in a 4-0 shutout during game two. In the Wednesday rubber match, the Rangers eked out a 1-0 win. Starter Andrew Heaney put up 5.0 innings with five hits and eight Ks.
In the starter slot for the Friday opener, the Rangers will send out Nathan Eovaldi. This year Eovaldi is 8-7 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts. In 287 career games (268 starts) Eovaldi is 87-80 with a 4.07 ERA.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
Over on the Guardians’ side, they took on the New York Yankees this week. Cleveland took a 9-5 win in the opener of that set, then on Wednesday the Guardians fell 8-1. In the Thursday finale Cleveland took a 6-0 shutout loss to drop the series. Gavin Williams gave up three earned in 4.1 innings.
As starting pitcher for Friday’s matchup the Guardians will go with Tanner Bibee. This year Bibee is 10-5 with a 3.33 ERA in 24 starts. Bibee is 20-9 with a 3.15 career ERA in 49 starts.
Total Runs Facts
- Seven of the Guardians’ last eight night games against American League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Six of the Rangers’ last seven games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last 10 night games between the Rangers and Guardians.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rangers’ last five games at Progressive Field.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Jose Ramirez has scored at least one run in each of the Guardians’ last six games against AL West opponents.
- Josh Naylor has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 home appearances against AL West opponents.
- Steven Kwan has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven appearances against the Rangers.
- Jose Ramirez has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Guardians’ last eight games as favorites against AL West opponents.
- Jose Ramirez has recorded a Double in three of the Guardians’ last four home games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Josh Naylor has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 11 home appearances against AL West opponents.
- Jose Ramirez has hit at least one home run in three of the Guardians’ last four games against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
Texas Rangers Player Prop Facts
- Marcus Semien has scored at least one run in seven of the Rangers’ last eight games against AL Central opponents.
- Nathan Eovaldi has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances with his team as an underdog against AL Central opponents .
- Marcus Semien has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rangers’ last 14 games against AL Central opponents.
- Carson Kelly has recorded at least one Single in each of his six previous road appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Jonah Heim has hit a home run in each of his three previous appearances against the Guardians after not playing the previous day.
- Adolis Garcia has recorded at least one RBI in six of his last seven appearances against the Guardians.
- Marcus Semien has recorded at least one total base in each of the Rangers’ last 14 games against AL Central opponents.
Cleveland Guardians vs Texas Rangers Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Guardians here. At least some of that is due to Eovaldi’s recent struggles. He’s coming off a decent showing in a loss to the Twins with three earned in 7.0 innings. Prior to that however, Eovaldi put up eight earned runs in 8.0 innings during a pair of losses.
On Thursday the Guardians had a pretty rough outing on the mound overall, as Williams and Nick Sandlin combined for five earned in five innings. There was very little happening at the plate as well; Cleveland could muster just one hit courtesy of Steven Kwan. The Guardians need a major bounce-back on both sides Friday.