Astros vs Rangers Betting Preview: Astros Seek Redemption in ALCS

Heaney and Urquidy Get the Call in a Pivotal Game 4 in the ALCS

The defending World Series champion Houston Astros are back in the American League Championship Series after winning the first of three games at Globe Life Field. According to the Astros vs Rangers betting preview, Texas Rangers is favored to move a win away from the franchise’s first World Series appearance since 2011.

With another day of rest for the aces on the pitching staff, it will be Jose Urquidy starting for Houston with Texas countering with Andrew Heaney.

The MLB scores and odds have the Rangers priced at -113 with the Astros coming in at +103.

The Rangers saw their odds to win the series move from +110 to -240 odds since the series began, with the Astros now priced at +190 in the Astros vs Rangers series odds after opening at -140 in the series odds. The

Rangers saw their odds to win the World Series move from +110 to +180, with the Astros priced at +350 in the championship odds.

All Hands On Deck for the Astros

While some of the usual suspects, namely Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez delivered as they combined for four hits, three runs, and three RBIs in a huge Game 3 win, it was the production from the bottom of the batting order that might have saved Houston’s season.

Mauricio Dubon had three hits, Martin Maldonado had a two-run single in Houston’s three-run second inning and Jeremy Pena also drove in a run in the 8-5 win. Pena’s RBI came in the eighth inning after Texas pulled within three runs.

Dubon, Maldonado, and Pena were a combined 4-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Astros vs Rangers betting preview.

The total has gone over in five of Houston’s last seven games.

Not Acting Like an MLB Rookie Player

Josh Jung is not performing like a player in the MLB playoffs for the first time.

After being pretty quiet in the first two games of the ALCS, the rookie third baseman hit two home runs and drove in four runs as the Rangers tried to dig themselves out of an early hole in Game 3.

Jung now has seven extra-base hits in eight playoff games. Dating back to the regular season, the Rangers had won the previous four games when Jung hit at least one home run. That could factor into the Astros vs Rangers betting preview.

Texas has won six of its last seven home games.

Who’s Hot

• Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros DH: Alvarez is 11-of-27 with six home runs and eight extra-base hits in this year’s playoffs.
• Ryan Pressly, Houston Astros P: Pressly hasn’t allowed a hit or a run in four innings of work in four relief appearances in the playoffs. He has struck out seven and walked two in those outings.
• Josh Sborz, Texas Rangers P: Sborz hasn’t allowed a hit or a run in 4.1 innings during five appearances in this year’s playoffs.
• Corey Seager, Texas Rangers SS: Even after failing to reach base for the first time in eight games in this year’s playoffs in Game 3, Seager is batting .333 with seven runs and four extra-base hits in the postseason.

Who’s Not

• Alex Bregman, Houston Astros 3B: Bregman is 2-for-12 in the first three games of the series.
• Hector Neris, Houston Astros P: Neris has allowed five hits, three home runs, and six runs in 4.2 innings in four postseason outings.
• Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers 2B: Semien is hitting just .171 with two extra-base hits in the postseason.
• Chris Stratton, Texas Rangers P: Stratton allowed two hits and two runs with one walk issued in an inning of work in his 2023 playoff debut.

Astros vs Rangers Head to Head

The road team won nine of the last 11 meetings between the Astros and Rangers. Houston all three of its road games in this year’s playoffs.

Houston won nine of the 13 games during the regular season, including seven wins in the last eight contests.

Eight of the last 10 games between the teams finished over the total.
When looking at the MLB standings, both teams finished the regular season with 90-72 records.

Astros v Rangers Betting Preview

Now things are about to get interesting after Houston cut the Texas lead in half.

The Rangers opted to use Jon Gray in relief in Game 3 and will ride with Andrew Heaney in Game 4. He allowed two hits and one run in 3.2 innings in his only other appearance in this year’s playoffs. The Astros will turn to Jose Urquidy. In his first start in the 2023 postseason, he allowed three hits and two runs in 5.2 innings in a win over Minnesota.

Houston has won six straight road games and five in a row on the road against the Rangers.

Houston is 29-16 this season when listed as the underdog, including a 25-12 mark as the underdog on the road. Texas is 65-45 as the favorite with a 44-25 record at home as the favorite.

After the teams combined for 13 runs in the highest-scoring game in this year’s ALCS, the MLB lines total has been set at 9.5. Much of the early money has been coming in on the game going under the total.

Houston has to win at least one of the next two games on the road to keep its hopes of returning to the World Series alive so why not take care of business in Game 4?

For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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