The defending World Series champion Texas Rangers look to take Game 4 of a four-game series on the road against the Detroit Tigers.
The MLB odds have both the Tigers and Rangers at -110 on the moneyline despite Texas taking two of the first three games in the series, and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is going to need a big afternoon from his bats with a rookie taking the mound for him.
Find out where my best bets lie in our MLB picks and Rangers vs. Tigers predictions on Thursday, April 18.
Rangers vs Tigers prediction
My best bet
Corey Seager Over 1.5 total bases (-110 at bet365)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Riding the high of winning World Series MVP last season, Corey Seager is off to another solid start for the Texas Rangers and that should continue against the Detroit Tigers and pitcher Kenta Maeda. Seager is third on the team in hits and has added two doubles and a home run thus far.
While he hasn’t been the same force he was last season, he’s still third on the team in batting average (.297) and OPS (.759). The four-time All-Star has proven he can erupt at any moment, and the 36-year-old Maeda should be sweating just thinking about having to deal with Seager & Co.
Maeda’s off to a wonky start in his first season with Detroit. He’s got a 6.00 ERA and has given up 14 hits and four homers across three starts and 15 innings. While he can be a tricky pitcher to hit for some with his splitter, Seager matches up well.
So far this season, Maeda is going to his splitter 38.8% of the time, and that’s a pitch that batters see so inconsistently that it can be hard to get a handle on it when they do see it. Yet throughout his career, Seager has made solid contact against it.
He’s only seen it in four plate appearances this season, but he’s batting .333 against it, and that’s after hitting .333 with a .519 SLG off it last season. Seager’s pretty consistent with it, too, hitting .316 two years ago against splitters.
Now, if Maeda goes to his second-most frequent pitch, that’s even better for Seager. Maeda uses his four-seamer 24.9% of the time, and Seager smashed it last season to the tune of a .306 average and .619 SLG.
The only other pitch that Maeda’s got in his arsenal that he’s using more than 10% of the time is his slider (20%), and Seager would welcome seeing it. The shortstop hit .307 with a .480 SLG against it last season.
Rangers vs Tigers same-game parlay (SGP)
Corey Seager Over 1.5 total bases
Kenta Maeda Over 1.5 walks issued
Jack Leiter Over 4.5 hits allowed
Seager isn’t the only bat in the Rangers lineup that Maeda could have trouble with, but it’s Texas’ ability to get on base that we’re focusing on here. The Rangers are averaging 3.58 walks per game this season after finishing third in the MLB last season with 3.72.
I expect the Rangers to give Maeda issues at the plate with him averaging 1.6 walks per start so far this year. Luckily for the Tigers, their bats should be able to get a few hits off of Jack Leiter in his first major league start for Texas. We’re banking on the rookie taking his lumps in his debut.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Rangers vs Tigers odds
Rangers vs Tigers live odds
Rangers vs Tigers opening odds
- Run line: Texas +1.5 | Detroit -1.5
- Moneyline: Texas +103 | Detroit -112
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Rangers vs Tigers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Tigers opened as the moneyline favorite with the odds as short as -120 and Texas even-money. The line has since shifted with most books now offering both teams at -110 odds.
- While Texas is first in the AL West, it’s just 10-9 so far this season with Detroit right on pace with the Rangers at 10-8.
- The Over/Under opened at 8.5 and remains there, with a few books offering the Over at shorter odds than the Under.
- Neither team has been a consistent Over bet thus far this season. The Tigers are 7-10-1 betting the Over and the Rangers are 9-10.
Rangers vs Tigers trend
The Rangers have hit the Over in 33 of their last 54 games (+13.05 Units / 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Tigers
Rangers vs Tigers game info
| Location: | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Date: | Thursday, 4-18-2024 |
| First pitch: | 1:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSSW, BSDET |
| Rangers starting pitcher: | Jack Leiter (0-0, 0.00 ERA) |
| Tigers starting pitcher: | Kenta Maeda (0-1, 6.00 ERA) |
Rangers vs Tigers latest injuries
Rangers vs Tigers weather
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