Texas Rangers vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/20/2024

Game Time: 7:20 pm ET, Saturday, April 20, 2024

Venue:  Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

Where to Watch:  BSSW

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +136, Braves -162; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +136, Braves -162; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +136, Braves -162; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Texas Rangers:  11-9 (1st place, AL West)

Atlanta Braves:  12-5 (1st place, NL East)

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Texas Rangers:  5-5 last 10

Atlanta Braves:  7-3 last 10

The Rangers are entering this series off a win and won their 4-game series against the Detroit Tigers 3-1 in their last series. They enter this game with an 11-9 record overall and have a road record of 6-4. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Braves on Saturday with the series opener of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .735 OPS. Andrew Heaney is their starting pitcher on Friday while Nathan Eovaldi is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 5 ER, 2 HR, and 2 BB with 3 Ks on 8 hits through 6 IP against the Houston Astros.

The Braves are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Houston Astros 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 12-5 record overall and have a home record of 4-2. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Rangers on Saturday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .842 OPS. Chris Sale is their starting pitcher on Friday while Charlie Morton is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 1-0 with a 5.29 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 6 earned runs, 1 homer, and 1 BB with 8 strikeouts on 7 hits through 5.2 innings played against the Miami Marlins.

The current betting odds have the Rangers listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rangers have looked good in their games this season with their 11-9 record overall and their 6-4 road record which has them leading the AL West right now. The Rangers are the defending World Series champions from last year, but already they are off to a good start this season and will be trying to keep their lead in the division with some of the other teams in their division struggling lately. Meanwhile, the Braves have looked really good in their games this season with their 12-5 record overall and their 4-2 home record which has them leading the NL East with one of the best records in the entire MLB right now. The Braves just swept their last series and had Thursday off before entering this series. They have had the best offense in the MLB to start the season as they usually do, but the Rangers also have a top 10 offense in the MLB and they aren't going to go down easy in this series. The Rangers also have the better pitching matchup in this game with Eovaldi starting. Eovaldi has been a solid starter for them going back to last season and he has been very good throughout his career, not giving up many runs in his starts. Morton hasn't had the same success this season though and he will be starting for the Braves in this game. Morton has struggled in Atlanta, not just this season but going back to last season too. He tends to give up a lot of runs and that will get his team into trouble here since the Rangers do have a really strong offense. There is too much value to be fading the World Series champions with the offense they have along with this pitching matchup. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rangers to win this game.

Rangers Braves Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, April 20, 2024 (7:20 pm ET start time) is Rangers 7 Braves 3.

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Texas Rangers: 182-179 (-6.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 50-56 (-16.5 units) on the moneyline when the total is 9 to 9.5. 6-3 OVER as an underdog of +100 or higher. NATHAN EOVALDI is 9-4 OVER as an underdog of +100 to +150.

Atlanta Braves: 219-130 (+20.7 units) on the moneyline in all games. 107-50 (+14.2 units) on the moneyline as a home favorite of -110 or higher. 5-1 OVER as a home favorite of -110 or higher. 5-1 OVER at home when the total is 8.5 to 10.

Texas Rangers:  B. Burke (SP) Out indefinitely - Hand. M. Scherzer (SP) Early May - Back. C. Bradford (SP) Out indefinitely - Back. J. Sborz (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. J. Foscue (2B) Early June - Oblique. J. Jung (3B) Early June - Wrist. T. Mahle (SP) Mid July - Elbow. J. Hernandez (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. N. Lowe (1B) Late April - Oblique. C. Coleman (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. J. deGrom (SP) Mid July - Elbow.

Atlanta Braves:  O. Albies (2B) Mid May - Toe. S. Strider (SP) out for season - Elbow. A. Perdomo (RP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. S. Murphy (C) Out indefinitely - Oblique.

“He was all right. He had a little trouble hitting his spots in the second inning, but he came right back in the third and got two quick outs in the fourth before he ran into trouble.” - Bruce Bochy after his team’s win against the Tigers in their game on Thursday.

“He’s got a slow heartbeat. I like seeing him in big situations. Even last year he had a lot of big hits. He doesn’t get caught up in all the excitement. He stays calm and slows the game down and allow himself a chance.” - Brian Snitker after his team’s win against the Astros in their game on Wednesday.

Marcus Semien (R) 2B

Corey Seager (L) SS

Evan Carter (L) LF

Adolis García (R) RF

Josh Smith (L) 3B

Wyatt Langford (R) DH

Jonah Heim (S) C

Ezequiel Duran (R) 1B

Leody Taveras (S) CF

Ronald Acuña Jr. (R) RF

Michael Harris II (L) CF

Austin Riley (R) 3B

Matt Olson (L) 1B

Marcell Ozuna (R) DH

Orlando Arcia (R) SS

Travis d'Arnaud (R) C

Jarred Kelenic (L) LF

Luis Guillorme (L) 2B

Batting Average:  Justin Foscue (.500)

Hits:  Marcus Semien (24)

Home Runs:  Adolis García (5)

RBI:  Adolis García (18)

Stolen Bases:  Adolis García (4)

Wins:  Cody Bradford (3)

Saves:  Kirby Yates (2)

ERA:  Kirby Yates (0.00)

Batting Average:  Orlando Arcia (.377)

Hits:  Marcell Ozuna (25)

Home Runs:  Marcell Ozuna (8)

RBI:  Marcell Ozuna (23)

Stolen Bases:  Ronald Acuña (8)

Wins:  A.J. Minter (3)

Saves:  Raisel Iglesias (5)

ERA:  Reynaldo López (0.50)

Managers:

Texas Rangers: Bruce Bochy (2nd season)

Atlanta Braves: Brian Snitker (9th season)