Rangers vs Rays Preview: Pitching, Pitching, Hitting, Hitting, Hitting!

Outstanding, Can't Miss Weekend Series Between MLB's Best

The Rangers vs Rays preview for Friday’s opening game isn’t easy. In typical Tampa Bay fashion, the Rays are holding off on naming a starting pitcher, making it tough on bettors and fantasy baseball players. Taj Bradley is a likely candidate to take the mound for the Rays.

You can’t blame Tampa Bay for trying to keep its plan for the weekend series under wraps. This is a big series with the Rangers. Tampa Bay has the best record in the MLB standings. The Rangers are a close second.

The Rays are -165 over Andrew Heaney and the Rangers. Tampa Bay has been a solid home favorite all season. The Rangers have been a solid away underdog this year, so the series shouldn’t have any problem living up to its pregame hype. The total is set at eight, with -116 toward the under.

Friday’s game is a bit of an appetizer for Game 2. On Saturday, Tampa Bay should send Shane McClanahan to the mound. McClanahan is the MLB Cy Young odds leader in the American League. He’s currently +300 to win the award and is tough to beat. The Rangers will send their ace to the mound in Nathan Eovaldi, whose MLB Cy Young odds are +1100 – the fifth lowest in the AL.

Rangers logoRangers vs RaysRays logo

Day/Time:
Location: Tropicana Field

Texas Rangers

While it’s not surprising to see Texas leading the AL West, few thought the Rangers would be in contention for the best record in baseball. The Rangers have the best offense in MLB, but the pitching has been better than expected. That’s gone a long way in keeping the Rangers at the top of the AL West standings.

Texas has the best batting average and has scored the most runs of anybody in baseball. Texas is batting .277 as a team and is No. 7 in home runs. Adolis Garcia and Marcus Semien are off to solid starts but get plenty of help.

But Texas is No. 4 in team pitching, right there with Tampa Bay. The Rangers only have 12 saves on the season. That’s partly due to some shaky relief pitching but also to Texas winning games by more than three runs where there is no save opportunity.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays were expected to cool down after their torrid start, but they’ve played well since then. Tampa Bay is solid offensively and defensively, so it’s no surprise they’re winning.

The Rays are No. 3 in MLB in team ERA. That’s almost expected out of Tampa Bay, which consistently rolls out a solid staff. The Rays have already used 28 pitchers on the season. But most of them have been able to get the job done.

The Rays are a surprise to be leading MLB in slugging percentage. Nobody expected quite so much power to be coming from the Tampa Bay bats.

Handicapping the Game

The Rangers vs Rays preview notes Heaney is pitching about a half run better than his career ERA. He had a strong season for the Dodgers last year and is throwing well for the Rangers. Texas is 7-4 when he takes the mound this season. But Tampa Bay is 9-3 against left-handed starters this season.

The Rays are 4-3 when Bradley starts, but Tampa Bay can always throw a bullpen game at a moment’s notice. Even if Bradley starts, the plan may be to get three or four innings out of him. The Rays have that luxury with their bullpen.

The Rangers vs Rays preview will note that the Rays have been practically unbeatable at home this season. It can’t be overlooked and has to be considered any time you look at a Tampa Bay game.

The Rays will want to make a statement in the opener and they’re simply too good at home to go against. The line is reasonable, so expect the Rays to get the early series lead with a victory Friday.

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