Rays vs Rangers Preview: Tampa Bay To Top Texas
Struggling AL teams square off for key three-game series
A pair of teams that need some positive momentum heading into the All-Star break square off for a three-game series when the Texas Rangers host the Tampa Bay Rays beginning on Friday night. The MLB playoffs odds aren’t very good for these teams, but with half a season left to play, there’s plenty of time for both squads.
Tampa Bay (44-43) has won three of its last four, including a win on Thursday night against the Kansas City Royals. The Rays are in fourth place in the AL East standings, 3.5 games behind the third-place Boston Red Sox.
The Rangers have been struggling to have consistent success of late, dropping eight of their last 10, including the last two of a home series against the San Diego Padres this week. Texas (39-48) is currently third in the AL West, sitting six games behind the second-place Houston Astros.
If you’re betting on the runline, the Rays are -210 when getting 1.5 runs, while the Rangers are +175 when giving those runs. The over/under for Friday’s contest is set at 8.5 runs, with -110 odds on either side of that wager.
The first game of the series is set for an 8:05 p.m. ET first pitch on Friday, with Saturday’s contest slated for a 4:05 p.m. ET start. The series finale will be at 2:35 p.m. ET, with all games of the series to be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Read on for more details about this series in our Rays vs Rangers preview.
Game 1
Rays vs Rangers 
Day/Time:
Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
Pitching Matchups
âš¾ Game 1 âš¾
- Shane Baz (Tampa Bay) vs Michael Lorenzen (Texas)
Right-hander Shane Baz is slated to start the opener of the series for Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old is 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA in six starts in his second MLB season, striking out 30 in 27 innings of work.
He’s coming off a difficult outing on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, lasting just 2.1 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits, including three home runs, while striking out two and walking none.
Texas will have righty Michael Lorenzen on the mound for Friday’s contest. Lorenzen is 4-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 14 starts, recording 58 strikeouts and 35 walks in 82 innings.
The 32-year-old is also coming off a difficult start, going five innings against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday and allowing five runs on four hits, including a pair of home runs, while striking out three and walking four.
âš¾ Game 2 âš¾
- Taj Bradley (Tampa Bay) vs Andrew Heaney (Texas)
Another second-year big leaguer will make the start for the Rays on Saturday, with Taj Bradley making his 11th appearance of the season. Bradley is 3-4 with a 3.42 ERA, striking out 72 in 55.1 innings.
After starting the month of June with an ugly outing against Baltimore – allowing nine runs on nine hits, including four home runs, in 3.1 innings – Bradley has been much better over his last five starts. In those five MLB games, the 23-year-old went a combined 29 innings and allowed four earned runs on 18 hits, striking out 40.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney will make his 17th start and 18th overall appearance in the middle game of the series for the Rangers. Heaney is 3-9 with a 4.04 ERA, striking out 85 in 84.2 innings, but he’s coming off a solid outing in his last start.
Facing Baltimore on Sunday, Heaney went seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out 10 and walking none, earning the win.
âš¾ Game 3 âš¾
- Zack Littell (Tampa Bay) vs Nathan Eovaldi (Texas)
The Rays will send Zack Littell to the mound for the series finale. The right-hander is 3-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 17 starts, striking out 86 in 91.1 innings.
Littell picked up his first win since mid-May in his last start, throwing five shutout innings against the Royals, giving up four hits while striking out four and walking none.
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is also coming off a big performance that he’s hoping to repeat in the series finale on Sunday. Eovaldi is 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA this season, striking out 80 in 80 innings.
Facing San Diego on Tuesday, Eovaldi went seven shutout innings, giving up just one hit while striking out six and walking none.
Rangers Need To Heat Up At Plate
If either of these teams is going to live up to the MLB predictions that had them returning back to the postseason this year, they’re going to need to get it done at the plate. The Rangers rank 15th in the majors in runs heading into this series, while the Rays are only 24th in baseball in scoring.
Third baseman Isaac Paredes has been leading the Tampa Bay attack this season, coming into this series on a four-game hitting streak. Paredes is batting .276 with 17 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs, 47 RBI and 34 runs scored.
Rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford has been the hottest hitter in the Texas lineup, recording hits in the last six games. The 22-year-old is batting .263 with 10 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 36 RBI and 26 runs scored. Langford drove in Texas’ only run on Thursday and has five RBI over the last four games.
Rays Get Past Rangers In Difficult Series
Wrapping up our Rays vs Rangers preview, this series should be close throughout, as neither baseball team has been consistent or dominating of late. Texas is just 21-21 at home this season, so being the host team hasn’t been a big advantage for it.
We like the young Tampa Bay hurlers to keep the Rangers’ offense in check. The Rays should be able to put together enough of an offensive attack to earn at least two wins on the road this weekend.
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