The defending World Series champion Texas Rangers (3-1) are off to a hot start. After taking their opening series against the Chicago Cubs 2-1, the Rangers made a statement in their first game of a three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays (2-3).
Despite blowing out the Rays 9-3 in Game 1, the MLB odds have Tampa Bay as the favorite over Texas in Game 2. No matter the outcome of the game, one thing is for certain: The bats will be popping for these World Series hopefuls.
Find out where my best bets lie in our MLB picks and predictions for Rangers vs. Rays on Tuesday, April 2.
Rangers vs Rays odds
Rangers vs Rays predictions
It’s been a heck of a ride for Corey Seager since joining the Texas Rangers. The former Los Angeles Dodger started his career with a Rookie of the Year award, two All-Star appearances and a World Series MVP, but injuries prevented him from reaching his potential at the end of his tenure with the Blue Crew.
After trading in Dodgers blue for the Rangers shade of the color — and signing a 10-year, $325 million deal — Seager has lived up to his billing as one of the best shortstops in the game. In his first two seasons in Arlington, he earned two more All-Stars and another World Series MVP while looking like a complete game-changer.
That game-changing ability has already continued into Year 3 with six hits in three games and an OPS of .995 to start the season. He’s poised to continue that pace against the Tampa Bay Rays — whom Texas knocked out in the AL Wild Card last year — and starting pitcher Zach Eflin.
While Eflin is a talented pitcher, he doesn’t match up well with Seager. The Rays ace has three go-to pitches with his sinker (35.8% of the time), cutter (24.7%), and sweeper (23.5%) — Seager hits them all well.
Last season, the Rangers shortstop had a .319 batting average and .708 slugging percentage against sinkers. The only pitch he hit harder than the sinker was the sweeper — finishing with a .455 batting average and .773 slugging percentage against it.
While it may seem like going to his cutter is the best option then, Seager has a history of killing them, too. Last year he batted .360 against the cutter with a .640 slugging percentage. Between those three pitches last season, he had a combined 16-run value.
The only other pitch Eflin uses more than 4% of the time is his curveball (9.9%), and Seager had a season-high run value against it last year (9) while batting .365 with a .635 slugging percentage.
My best bet: Corey Seager Over 1.5 total bases (-115 at bet365)
Rangers vs Rays same-game parlay
Corey Seager Over 1.5 total bases
Marcus Semien Over 0.5 hit
Yandy Diaz Over 1.5 total bases
It’s not just Seager who matches up well with Eflin, either. Teammate Marcus Semien had a .625 slugging percentage against the sinker last season, a .308 betting average against the cutter, and a .282 average against the sweeper.
On the other side, Yandy Diaz can take advantage of Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney. Heaney goes to his four-seamer 57.9% of the time, a pitch Diaz has hit over .335 against in each of the past two seasons.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Rangers vs Rays moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- Despite the Rangers taking Game 1 of the series in explosive fashion, the Rays opened as -150 to -154 favorites and remain there.
- Tampa is just 2-3 this season but coming off a 99-65 season (including playoffs), while Texas is 3-1 after going 103-76 on its way to a World Series title last year.
- The Over/Under opened as low as 8 but has crept up to 8.5 at most books with these teams’ combo of All-Star bats.
- Tampa is 4-1 betting the Over this season and was 89-69-6 last season. Texas is 3-1 this season and was 93-75-11 last season.
Trend to know
The Texas Rangers have hit the Moneyline in 27 of their last 39 games (+14.10 Units / 29% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Rays
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Rangers vs Rays game info
| Location: | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Date: | Tuesday, April 2, 2024 |
| First pitch: | 6:50 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSSW, BSSUN |
Starting pitchers
Andrew Heaney (0-0, 0.00 ERA): In his first start of the season, the 32-year-old Heaney will be looking to build on an impressive first year with the Rangers. The former Los Angeles Angel and Dodger, posted a 4.15 ERA last season across 147 1/3 innings pitched while racking up 151 strikeouts.
Zach Eflin (0-1, 9.53 ERA): The 29-year-old Eflin is coming off his best season in the majors with a 3.50 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings pitched. However, he was shelled in the season opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up three home runs in less than six innings of work. Trying to bounce back against the defending champs is a tall task for the 6-foot-6 Rays ace.
