Rangers vs Braves Pick – MLB Predictions & Odds 5/15/23

The Atlanta Braves and the Texas Rangers meet Monday in MLB action from Globe Life Field. The Braves are coming off a weekend series versus the Blue Jays. Atlanta lost the first pair in that one, then on Sunday the Braves fell by one run. As for Texas, they played the A’s over the weekend and won two of the first three. In the finale the Rangers took a blowout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Atlanta Braves 

The Braves lost to the Blue Jays 3-0 on Friday and 5-2 in the Saturday game two. In the Sunday finale, Atlanta was swept thanks to a 6-5 loss. Starting pitcher Collin McHugh gave up six hits and two walks with two Ks in 1.2 innings. 

As starter for the Monday matchup the Braves will send out Charlie Morton. Over his seven starts this year Morton is 4-3 with a 3.32 ERA and 39 Ks in 40.2 innings. Morton is 120-104 in his career with a 4.02 ERA in 330 games (329 starts).

Texas Rangers 

Over on the Texas side, they beat the A’s 4-0 Thursday and 5-0 Saturday around a 9-7 Friday loss. On Sunday the Rangers bagged eight runs in the eighth inning alone during an 11-3 victory. Starter Andrew Heaney lasted 6.0 innings with one earned on four hits and two walks. 

IThe Rangers will start lefty prospect Cody Bradford in the Monday game. This will be Bradford’s MLB debut. He has a 5-1 record with a 0.91 ERA in the minors this year. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll probably stay with Atlanta, even with the sketchy weekend series on the books. It’ll be interesting to see what Bradford can do on the other side as well. The Braves were in position to win Sunday’s game down the stretch, but ultimately came up short—and spent quite a bit of bullpen power doing it. That said, Morton has gone 6.0 innings or more in two of his last three starts so he should be able to work deep into this game. I like Atlanta to get some mojo back with a win here in the opener.