The Texas Rangers (40-21) are off to the best start in franchise history and lead the defending world champion Houston Astros by five games in the American League West. They might have gone to 41-20 on Wednesday thanks to Jon Gray’s complete-game gem. He permitted just four hits, including a solo home run in the eighth inning, while striking out a dozen batters without issuing a loss. The Rangers lead baseball in runs scored, but they couldn’t break through at all against St. Louis, with a number of reserves in the starting lineup to give the team a bit of rest. After that 1-0 loss, the Rangers visit the Tampa Bay Rays (46-19), who lead the American League East by 6 ½ games over Baltimore, for a weekend series. Don’t miss our MLB betting preview for each game.
MLB Series Spotlight: Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays (June 9-11) | MLB Lines
Andrew Heaney (4-3, 4.03 ERA) (TEX) vs Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 3.72 ERA) (TB)
When: Friday, June 9, 6:40 pm ET
Where: Tropicana Field
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Andrew Heaney had a nice stretch in May when he permitted just two earned runs over 20 combined innings in wins over the Athletics, Rockies and Orioles. He only made it three innings on Saturday, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five. The Rangers’ offense went nuts in a 16-6 tattooing of the Seattle Mariners, but against a team like the Rays, Heaney needs to stop finding as much of the plate.
After starting the season on the injured list, Tyler Glasnow has made two starts but has not registered a decision in either one. His debut lated 4 ⅓ innings, and he permitted three runs on five hits, including a home run, while striking out eight and walking one against the Dodgers. On Saturday, he went 5 ⅓ innings against Boston, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out six and walking three. He is likely to remain on a pitch count limit as he works his way back to full health, but based on his performance last time out, he’s been able to keep hitters guessing. Rays to win.
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Nathan Eovaldi (8-2, 2.24 ERA) (TEX) vs Taj Bradley (4-2, 3.60 ERA) (TB)
When: Saturday, June 10, 4:10 pm ET
Where: Tropicana Field
Live Stream: MLB Network (JIP at 5p), MLB.tv
Nathan Eovaldi has not allowed a run in a game since May 23, when he threw a complete game in Pittsburgh, allowing one run on six hits in a 6-1 victory. Since then, he has mowed down the Tigers and the Mariners, throwing 11 combined innings and scattering five hits Against the Mariners on Sunday, he struck out seven without a walk and just allowed one hit. Eovaldi’s roar record (5-1) and ERA (1.49) have been even more dominant.
Taj Bradley’s stuff has been solid too, as of late. On Memorial Day, he held the Cubs to a single unearned run over 5 ⅔ innings but still took the hard-luck 1-0 loss. He threw six innings in Boston on Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out six and walking three in a 6-2 win. The Tampa Bay offense only managed three runs in Bradley’s three starts in May, so seeing the Rays help him out more on Sunday was a welcome sign. Rangers to win.
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Martin Perez (6-1, 3.97 ERA) (TEX) vs Shane McClanahan (9-1, 2.02 ERA) (TB)
When: Sunday, June 11, 1:40 pm ET
Where: Tropicana Field
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Martin Perez has not been the most dominant pitcher in the Rangers’ rotation, but he has gotten offensive support. On May 30, he got shelled for six runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, over 4 ⅔ innings in Detroit, but the offense delivered a 10-6 win. His last start, coming on Monday against St. Louis, was a gem, as he went seven innings and permitted just one unearned run on three hits, striking out five and walking one in a 4-3 win.
Shane McClanahan has only allowed more than two earned runs in a game once this season, and that came way back on May 13 at Yankee Stadium, when he gave up four runs on five hits, including a pair of home runs. In his last start, he held Boston to a run on five hits (including a solo shot), striking out five while walking two. Rays to win.
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