Rangers vs Twins Odds: First-Place Texas Slumping at Wrong Time

The Texas Rangers will look to snap out of their recent funk when they visit the Minnesota Twins for a crucial four-game series, starting Thursday. In the series opener, Minnesota is -1.5 on the run line (+154) and a slight -125 favorite to win outright, with Texas priced at +105. The projected total is 8.5, with the Over boosted to -105.

Texas is still a +160 favorite to win the series, while Minnesota comes in at +250. Should the clubs split the four games, oddsmakers are offering the opportunity for bettors to cash in at +155 odds.

Read on as we break down both teams in our Rangers vs Twins odds preview.

Rangers’ Division Leading Shrinking

The Texas Rangers are steadily losing grip on the American League West. Losers of six straight, the Rangers (72-54) have seen their division lead over the Houston Astros shrink to just 1.0 game. The Seattle Mariners are now right on their heels as well, only 1.5 games back.

As such, the Rangers’ MLB odds of winning the division have dropped to +165. Houston has overtaken them as a +115 favorite, while Seattle has jumped to +250.

What’s the cause of Texas’ recent slump? Much of the blame falls on the Rangers’ usually potent lineup, which has scored three runs or fewer in five of the last six games. Despite that, the Rangers continue to lead the AL in runs scored (708) and are tied for fifth in MLB in homers (174). All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien is among those who have struggled mightily of late, batting 5-of-23 with just one RBI over the last seven days.

Twins Holding Firm on AL Central

The Minnesota Twins are just 55-52 but hold a 4.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. Oddsmakers are confident they’ll stay there, pricing them -1200 to win the division.

Pitching remains a strength for the Twins, who rank eighth in ERA (3.93) and lead baseball with 1,208 strikeouts. Their 63 quality starts are also tops, thanks to a staff headlined by Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez.

The next few weeks figure to be crucial for Minnesota. It faces Cleveland six times between Aug. 28 and Sept. 6, with another series against the Rangers sandwiched in between. If the Twins can hold their own during that stretch, they’ll move closer to securing their first AL Central title since 2020.

Odds Outlook

Texas has been among the most profitable teams for bettors, with a 72-54 record against the run line, including 32-28 on the road. The Rangers have covered the spread at a 57.1% clip, third behind the Cincinnati Reds (63.3%) and Baltimore Orioles (61.9%). Conversely, Minnesota is just 60-67 ATS and 28-34 at home. Keep that in mind when assessing the Rangers vs Twins odds.

Lopez will carry a career-high 19-inning scoreless streak into Thursday’s series opener. The right-hander has now thrown 25 innings in August and allowed just one run (0.36 ERA). For the season, Lopez is 9-6 with a 3.51 ERA and has struck out 187 batters in 153.2 innings, ranking third in baseball behind Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (227) and Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (195). He opposes Heaney, who is 9-6 with a 4.27 ERA according to MLB player stats. Notably, the left-hander hasn’t allowed a home run over his last 20.2 innings dating to July 26.

Sonny Gray made his third All-Star team this season and ranks 10th in MLB with a 3.15 ERA. He’s also given up just five homers in 143 innings. Aside from Gray, the only other qualifying pitcher who has allowed fewer than 10 homers is Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman (eight). Gray faces Dunning, who is 9-5 with a 3.19 ERA. While Dunning isn’t generally a big swing-and-miss pitcher, he’s posted double-digit strikeouts in two of his last four outings and has 33 strikeouts in 25.2 innings this month.

Scherzer, acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, has a healthy 2.66 ERA in four starts as a Ranger. However, Scherzer lasted only 3.2 innings in his most recent start on the baseball schedule, a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday. For the season, the three-time Cy Young winner is 12-5 with a 3.77 ERA and 151 strikeouts. The Twins have yet to name a starter opposite him, which could swing the Rangers vs Twins odds. They could turn to Joe Ryan (groin) but are also considering moving to a six-man rotation. Ryan, who has been out since Aug. 2, is 9-8 with a 4.43 ERA.

Ober is 6-6 with a 3.41 ERA. The Rangers will counter with Montgomery, whom they acquired last month from the St. Louis Cardinals. Montgomery has a 1.73 in four starts as a Ranger and is 8-10 with a 3.12 ERA overall.

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

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