Playoff Rematch on Tap when Texas Heads to Tampa Bay

Injuries, Starting Pitching to Impact Rangers vs Rays Preview

American League Contenders Rangers, Rays for Three-Game Set

The Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays are set to get together for the first time since the Rangers began their run to the franchise’s first World Series title by sweeping the best-of-three series. The Rangers vs Rays preview favors the Rays in the series opener.

The Rangers have won five games in a row against Tampa Bay with the Rangers outscoring the Rays 24-7 in those matchups. Tampa Bay has won four of its last five regular-season home games against the Rangers.

The MLB betting lines have Tampa Bay with -117 odds to win Monday’s game outright. The Rays come in at +165 to cover against the run line as 1.5-run favorites, something they have done in five of the last six games as a favorite. Texas has +107 odds to win the game outright with -205 odds to cover as the 1.5-run underdog.

It will be most of the same players in the MLB starting lineups as in the playoff series.

A quick look at the American League baseball standings, Texas is in first place in the AL West with Tampa Bay tied for third in the AL East.

Defending World Series champion Texas is tied for fifth at +1200 in the odds to win the World Series. Tampa Bay comes in at +3500 in the championship odds.

Rangers logo Rangers vs Rays Rays logo

Records: Texas 2-1 at Tampa Bay 2-2
Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Day/Time: Streaming: Monday – Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Florida, FS1; Tuesday – Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sunday – Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Sun

Probable Pitching Matchups

  • Monday: Dane Dunning (Rangers) vs Ryan Pepiot (Rays)
  • Tuesday: Andrew Heaney (Rangers) vs Zach Eflin (Rays)
  • Wednesday: Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers) vs Aaron Civale (Rays)

Texas Turns on Power

The Rangers flexed their muscles in the first series of the season after winning the World Series.

Ten of the 24 hits against the Chicago Cubs went for extra bases with Adolis Garcia homering twice, Josh Jung having a double, triple, and home run while Jared Walsh and Travis Jankowski both hitting home runs.

In the second game of the MLB season, Texas hit three home runs and had six extra-base hits as the Rangers scored more than 10 runs for the first time. Keep that in mind when looking at the Rangers vs Rays preview.

The Rangers had three extra-base hits even while losing to the Cubs on Sunday.

The total has gone over in 10 of the last 14 games for the Rangers.

Uncover Exclusive Picks & Predictions From Our Experts.

Bullpen Unravels for Tampa Bay

After winning the previous two games, Tampa Bay allowed at least two runs in four of the first seven innings to drop the series finale to AL East rival Toronto.

Tampa Bay’s three relievers gave up seven hits, and seven runs, and walked six batters in a 9-2 loss.

Tampa Bay’s relievers allowed two runs in six innings in the previous two games. That could come into play when it comes to the Rangers vs Rays preview.

Ryan Pepiot, who was 5-1 in the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, will make his first start with Tampa Bay.

Twelve of the last 16 games for Tampa Bay finished over the total.

Who’s Hot

  • Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays OF: Arozarena is hitting .357 with four runs, two home runs, and three RBIs.
  • Garrett Cleavinger, Tampa Bay Rays P: Cleavinger hasn’t allowed a hit or a run in three innings in his first two outings.
  • Jared Walsh, Texas Rangers 1B: Walsh is 4-for-9 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs in his first three games.
  • Kirby Yates, Texas Rangers P: Yates has allowed one hit and no runs in two innings of work.

Who’s Not

  • Evan Carter, Texas Rangers OF: One of the front-runners in the American League Rookie of the Year odds is 0-for-8. He has walked five times and scored three runs.
  • Jose Leclerc, Texas Rangers P: Leclerc has surrendered five earned runs with five walks in 1.2 innings in his first two appearances.
  • Harold Ramirez, Tampa Bay Rays OF: Ramirez is 1-for-17 in the first four games of the season.
  • Jacob Waguespack, Tampa Bay Rays P: Waguespack walked four hitters and surrendered two earned runs in one inning in his season debut.

Rays vs Rangers Injury Update

Pitchers Jacob deGrom, Jonathan Hernandez, and Max Scherzer are out along with first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.

Tampa Bay is without injured pitchers Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs, and Taj Bradley. Infielder Brandon Lowe is also out.

Rays vs Rangers Betting Preview

Three of the four pitchers who won at least 10 games for the Rangers are set to start in the series and they combined to win seven of the 13 postseason games for the Rangers. For the Rays, only Zach Eflin started last season with Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay is 2-1 as a favorite this season while the series opener will be the first time this season that the Rangers are listed as the underdog.

Texas has won its last 10 road games while four of the last six times that the Rangers played at Tropicana Field – the game went over the total. The total is set at 8.5 runs for the series opener. The total has gone over in 11 of Tampa Bay’s last 15 home games.

Texas is going after its eighth win in a row against American League East teams.

The Rays are 13-7 outright in the last 20 games as the favorite.

The best way to proceed with Monday’s series opener is to go with the game to finish over the total.

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


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