MLB Predictions: Will the Rays upset the Rangers on Friday? 7/21/17
Will the Rangers and Rays break out the bats tonight at 7:10PM ET when the two teams meet in Tampa?
The Matchup: Rangers vs. Rays, 7:10PM ET, Tropicana Field
Texas enters play tonight with a 45-50 record and is 20-30 on the road. The Rangers have also dropped six of their last 10 games entering play tonight.
On the other side is the Rays, who are 51-45 on the season and 27-19 at home. Unlike the struggling Rangers, Tampa Bay has had success over its last 10 games, winning seven contests over that span.
According to oddsmakers, Texas is a -125 money line favorite to win tonight’s game. That makes Tampa Bay a +115 money line underdog to pull off the upset at home. The total, meanwhile, sits at 8 runs, up from the original number of 7.5.
The Pitching Matchup: Yu Darvish (TEX) vs. Alex Cobb (TB)
Darvish pitched 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball against the Royals in Kansas City on July 16. Only two of those runs were earned, as Darvish allowed eight hits and struck out six in the performance. He’s now 6-8 on the year and owns a 3.45 ERA over 125 1/3 innings pitched.
Cobb, meanwhile, picked up his second win in as many starts on July 15. He allowed one run on six hits over 7 2/3 innings pitched in a 6-3 win over the Angels. He struck out four, walked three and allowed one home run. Cobb is now 8-6 on the year and owns a 3.59 ERA.
Our Prediction
The Rangers are 1-4 in Darvish’s last five road starts and are winless in his last six outings. Texas has also dropped five straight overall, five straight on the road, and four straight versus a right-handed starter.
On the other side, the Rays are 4-1 in Cobb’s last five starts. They’re also 6-2 in their last eight games overall and have taken 11 of their last 16 home games.
Friday MLB Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays +115
