The Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants meet Saturday in MLB action from Oracle Park. This will be game two in a three-game weekend series. On Friday in the opener, Texas eked out a tight win to strike first. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Texas Rangers 

The Rangers took on the A’s in their last series, bagging two wins in three games. During a 2-0 shutout loss Wednesday, Texas’ Jordan Montgomery had a nice start (6.0 innings; two earned) but the offense came up with just three hits. On Friday versus the Giants, Texas scored both runs in the sixth inning during a 2-1 win. Nathaniel Lowe and Mitch Garver each had a solo home run to take care of the scoring. 

In the starter role for the Rangers on Saturday, it’ll be Andrew Heaney. In his 22 starts this year Heaney is 9-6 with a 4.14 ERA and 118 Ks in 113.0 innings. Heaney is 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA in his last seven starts, bagging 14 earned in 35.0 innings total. 

Texas Rangers Player Prop Facts

• Adolis Garcia ranks 7th in the league in Home Runs (29) this season.

San Francisco Giants 

Over on the Giants’ side, they took on the Angels this week and lost two of three games. In the 4-1 loss during the finale, San Francisco got a lone RBI from Brandon Crawford. In the Friday matchup the Giants were flummoxed with just three hits on the way to the defeat. Thairo Estrada managed the only RBI on an 0-for-4 night. 

Alex Cobb will take the mound for the Saturday start. Over 21 starts this year Cobb is 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA and 107 Ks in 117.1 innings. Cobb is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in his last seven starts, posting 31 Ks in 38.2 innings. 

San Francisco Giants Player Prop Facts

• LaMonte Wade Jr ranks 7th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.393) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The San Francisco Giants ranks 1st in the league for walks allowed this season (294).
• The San Francisco Giants ranks 29th in the league for steals this season (46).
• The Texas Rangers ranks 1st in the league for runs scored this season (661).
• The Texas Rangers ranks 1st in the league for hits this season (1090).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll try the Rangers in this one. Heaney is rolling right along these days. He’s 3-0 in his last three starts and has zero earned runs over his last 11.2 innings on six hits and two walks. Heaney will need some help from the Texas offense, which has been hit-and-miss lately. The good news is that Cobb is coming off five earned in 5.1 innings so the Rangers could have some opportunities early. In the opener matchup Texas took advantage of a nice start from Jon Gray (7.0 clean innings; two hits; no walks; seven Ks) which aided a rather tepid offensive night. The Rangers have just two runs over their last two games, so the offense needs to come along for the ride on Saturday.