Texas Rangers
Cleveland Guardians
(+100/-120)-135
As the Cleveland Guardians prepare to host the Texas Rangers on August 24, they find themselves in a pivotal moment of the season. With a record of 73-55, the Guardians are contending for a playoff spot, while the Rangers, at 60-69, are struggling mightily and currently unable to make any postseason plans. The Guardians dropped their last matchup against the Rangers yesterday with a score of 5-3, and they will be looking to bounce back in the second game of this series.
Ben Lively, projected to start for the Guardians, holds a Win/Loss record of 10-8 and boasts a respectable ERA of 3.68. Although he ranks just 247th among MLB starters, his recent performance, which saw him allow only 2 earned runs in 6 innings on August 18, highlights that he can be effective despite his overall ranking. On the flip side, Jon Gray, the Rangers’ starter, has had a rough season as well, going 5-4 with a 3.75 ERA, but his last start on July 28 was disastrous, resulting in 0 innings pitched.
Offensively, the Guardians have been steady, ranking 19th in MLB this season, while the Rangers sit at 24th, illustrating a significant disparity in performance. With Jose Ramirez leading the way for Cleveland, having recorded 32 home runs and 101 RBIs this season, the Guardians’ offense has the potential to capitalize on Jon Gray’s low strikeout rate.
This matchup should be tight, as the projections indicate that the Guardians are favored, with many believing the game could come down to the effectiveness of each starting pitcher. The Guardians have been given an implied team total of 4.45 runs, suggesting they will need an impactful performance from both Lively and their batting lineup to secure a win and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Texas Rangers Insights
- Texas Rangers – 2H MoneylineThe Texas Rangers bullpen profiles as the 3rd-best in the majors, via the leading projection system (THE BAT).Explain: Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a strong bullpen sneakily creates a tougher matchup for the opposing offense and suppresses a game’s runs.
Betting Trends
- Cleveland Guardians – Moneyline (-135)The Cleveland Guardians have hit the Moneyline in 29 of their last 45 games at home (+7.75 Units / 13% ROI)
- Over/Under 8.5 Game Total (+100/-120)The Texas Rangers have hit the Game Total Over in 22 of their last 35 away games (+10.20 Units / 27% ROI)
- Andres Gimenez – Over/Under 1.5 Hits Runs and RBIs (-135/+105)Andres Gimenez has hit the Hits Runs and RBIs Under in 24 of his last 35 games (+10.10 Units / 22% ROI)