At the halfway mark of a 10-game road trip, the Texas Rangers look for consecutive wins for the first time since early April.
Texas is in Motown for the second of a 4-game set with the Detroit Tigers and are listed as -140 moneyline favorites in the MLB odds.
Detroit would be the division leader if it were playing in the AL West, with a better winning percentage than the Rangers. Instead, it’s third in the Central, looking up at both the Guardians and Royals.
How does this matinee affair shake out at Comerica? Check out my free Rangers vs Tigers predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, April 16.
Rangers vs Tigers prediction
My best bet
Over 8.5 (-102 at DraftKings)
My analysis
The Rangers opened the set with a 1-0 win Monday night, in what looks like the outlier victory of their season so far. It was just the second one-run win of the year — and the first since opening day — and the lowest run total in a Texas win this season.
In their previous eight wins, the Rangers had piled up an average of 7.9 runs per game, with the average margin of victory at just over five runs.
Texas is a Top-10 team in almost every offensive category, including runs, hits, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. They’ve already had a good look at what Detroit brings to the table – a pitching staff that ranks as one of the best in baseball.
The Tigers are fifth in team ERA (3.01), and they are holding teams to an MLB-best in WHIP (1.10) and batting average (.202).
But that’s just one half of the equation, and all those quality innings aren’t being rewarded.
Since a 5-0 start, Detroit has gone just 4-7 over the last 11, and it has scored one run or less in five of those L’s. Their offense ranks in the Bottom 5 in almost all notable categories, including a team .215 batting average, a .288 on-base percentage, .338 slugging percentage and .612 OPS. Detroit is also Bottom 5 in hits and runs scored, putting up just 3.5 runs per game.
Those Texas bats rarely lie dormant, so expect them to come alive against Tigers’ starter Casey Mize, who’s posted a 4.82 ERA over 9.1 innings of work across two starts.
Low-scoring games are an outlier in this head-to-head: If you take out that 1-0 game, the Rangers and Tigers have blown past the 8-run total set for Tuesday in seven of the last nine meetings.
Rangers vs Tigers same-game parlay (SGP)
Over 8.5
Marcus Semien Over 1.5 hits
Adolis Garcia 1+ hits
This same game parlay will focus on the top of the Rangers’ potent batting lineup.
Leadoff man Marcus Semien had a hit in the win over the Tigers, giving him at least a hit in four straight games, with just three hitless games in his last 12.
He also had a hit in six of seven games against the Tigers in 2023, including multiple base raps in three of his last five against Detroit.
Semien has yet to face Mize in his career, but expect him to keep raking against whoever the Tigers put on the bump.
Adolis Garcia didn’t record a hit Monday, and that hasn’t happened much this season. Texas’ leading hitter with a .308 average, Garcia has gone hitless in just three of 17 games on the year.
This is just the second time in eight games he’s gone hitless against the Tigers: In 30 at-bats across seven games against Detroit in 2023, Garcia hit .366.
Don’t expect him to go 0-fer in back-to-back games
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 (+140) | Detroit +1.5 (-165)
- Moneyline: Texas -125 | Detroit +105
- Over/Under: Over -115 | Under -105
Rangers vs Tigers spread and Over/Under analysis
- Texas has won 12 straight vs teams with a winning record.
- Detroit has lost three of its last four.
- The Over is 3-1 in the last four Rangers vs Tigers meetings.
- The Tigers have gone Under the total in three straight games.
Rangers vs Tigers trend
Texas is 4-5 as a betting favorite this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Tigers
Rangers vs Tigers game info
| Location: | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Date: | Tuesday, 4-16-2024 |
| First pitch: | 1:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | BSSW, BSDET |
| Rangers starting pitcher: | Jon Gray (0-1, 4.38 ERA) |
| Tigers starting pitcher: | Casey Mize (0-0, 4.82 ERA) |
Rangers vs Tigers latest injuries
Rangers vs Tigers weather
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
