Can Surging Rangers Keep It Going in Miami?
Rangers vs Marlins Betting Odds Have Visiting Texas Favored in the Series Opener
Defending World Series Champion Rangers Eye First Three-Game Series Of the 2024 Season
Both the Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins head into their weekend series with some momentum, with Texas on a three-game winning streak and Miami’s eight-run win on Wednesday tying its second largest in May. The Rangers vs Marlins betting odds favor the Rangers in the series opener.
The last time the teams met, the Rangers swept a three-game series against the visiting Marlins in 2023, with two of those games finishing under the total.
The MLB betting lines has Texas priced at -135 to win Friday’s series opener with the Marlins at +115 to win outright. There are +115 odds for the Rangers to cover at -1.5 on the run line.
Texas is tied for eighth at +2200 in the odds of winning the World Series. Miami is well back at +50000 in the championship odds.
Rangers vs Marlins 
Records: Texas Rangers 27-29 (14-13 on the road) at Miami Marlins 20-37 (10-18 at home)
Location: LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
Day/Time: Streaming: Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Florida.
Rangers vs Marlins Probable Starting Pitchers
- Friday: Jose Urena (Rangers) vs Sixto Sanchez (Marlins)
- Saturday: TBA (Rangers) vs Ryan Weathers (Marlins)
- Sunday: TBA (Rangers) vs Trevor Rogers (Marlins)
Welcome Back, Jose
There was a time when Jose Urena was viewed as one of the key pieces of the pitching staff for the Miami Marlins.
Urena had a 14-7 record for the Marlins in his third MLB season. However, he went 13-25 over the next three seasons before leaving the Marlins after the 2020 season. That began a baseball odyssey for Urena with stops in Detroit, Milwaukee, Colorado, and the Chicago White Sox. Now, he is in his first season with the Rangers.
Despite a 3.53 ERA this season, which would be the second-lowest of his MLB career, Urena is just 1-4.
He is slated to start for the Rangers in the series opener. It would be the first time he has pitched against the Marlins. He was just 11-32 pitching at home in six seasons with the Marlins. That could factor into the Rangers vs Marlins betting odds.
Five of the last six games for the Rangers went under the total.
How Do You Spell Relief?
This has been a forgettable season so far for the Miami Marlins. However, it is hard to lay much of the blame on the bullpen in recent games.
Over the last seven games, Miami’s relievers have allowed nine hits and two runs with 13 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. Keep that in mind when looking at the Rangers vs Marlins betting odds.
Anthony Bender, Declan Cronin, Andrew Nardi, A.J. Puk, Tanner Scott, and Butch Smith all have 0.00 ERAs over the stretch.
It has been a bit of a reversal of fortune as the 14 losses by Miami’s relief pitchers are tied for the most in the majors with the Marlins’ bullpen ERA of 4.34 ranking 23rd out of 30 MLB teams.
With the bullpen leading the way, six of Miami’s last seven games went under the total.
Who’s Hot
- Jazz Chisholm, Miami Marlins OF: Chisholm is 11-for-33 with four runs and six extra-base hits in his last eight games.
- Jose Leclerc, Texas Rangers P: Leclerc has allowed two hits and one run with eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings over his last six appearances.
- Corey Seager, Texas Rangers SS: Seager is 15-43 with 10 runs, nine home runs, and 14 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak.
- Ryan Weathers, Miami Marlins P: Weathers has allowed nine hits and two runs with 19 strikeouts in 21 innings in his last three starts.
Who’s Not
- Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins OF: De La Cruz is 0-for-12 with five strikeouts in his last three games.
- Nathaniel Lowe, Texas Rangers 1B: Lowe has four hits with six strikeouts in his last 23 at-bats.
- David Robertson, Texas Rangers P: Robertson has surrendered six hits and seven runs in five innings in his last five outings.
- Sixto Sanchez, Miami Marlins P: Sanchez has given up 11 hits and seven runs in nine innings over his last two starts.
Rangers vs Marlins Injury Update
Pitcher Michael Lorenzen is questionable, while pitcher Josh Sborz is out for the Rangers.
Outfielder Avisail Garcia and pitcher JT Chargois are on the MLB injured list for the Marlins.
Rangers vs Marlins Betting Preview
It will be interesting to see how the odds shake out once the Rangers make their probable pitchers for the final two games of the season known.
The Rangers have enjoyed the trips to Miami in recent years with a 7-2 outright record in their last nine road games against the Marlins.
The Rangers are 17-15 this season as a favorite but they have covered against the run line in just three of 10 games as a road favorite. That is still better than Miami’s ugly 1-13 mark against the run line as the home underdog.
Miami is also 2-18 against left-handed starting pitchers. That has played a role in the Miami Marlins standings having the 2023 playoff team having the worst record (20-37) in the National League.
Just 10 of the first 28 home games for the Marlins finished over the total. The total is at 8.5 for the series opener.
When looking at recent Texas Rangers score, the Rangers have lost eight of its last nine games on the road. Is a trip to Miami just what the doctor ordered for the defending World Series champion?
There is no rain in the forecast for the series opener. There are predictions of heavy winds but that might not be enough to close the retractable roof for Friday’s game.
Five of the last six games for the Rangers landed under the total so keep that in mind when looking at the MLB games today.
The series opener will be the 10th consecutive time that Miami is listed as the underdog at home as the Marlins head into the weekend tied for the fewest home wins in the National League.
Rangers vs Marlins Odds
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