Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Guardians Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/6/2022

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

Where to watch: Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports Great Lakes

DraftKings: Guardians -115, Rangers -105

BetMGM: Guardians -115, Rangers -105

Caesars: Guardians -115, Rangers -105

Rangers: 25-28

Guardians: 24-25

If you're a fan of the Texas Rangers, you're disappointed at only one thing: For all the losing that the Los Angeles Angels have gone through over the past few weeks, to not find a way to leapfrog them in the standings has to be considered a great failure. Because I can look at just a few games they've lost in recent memory and point to how the Rangers should be in second place in the American League West.

As a matter of fact, Sunday's loss to the Seattle Mariners would fall into that category, having held a 5-2 lead going into the ninth and blowing it for a 6-5 loss in the 10th. Now the Rangers have to try and find a way to regroup when they face the Cleveland Guardians with a three-game series in Cleveland starting on Monday.

The Rangers, as mentioned, led 5-2 going into the ninth. They got home runs from Adolis Garcia, Marcus Semien and Mitch Garver. Things were looking up. And then Eugenio Suarez decided to haunt their dreams, coming an RBI triple shy of the penultimate cycle. Suarez went 3-for-4, including the game-tying two-run double in the ninth to send it to extras.

But of course, the talk should be of the Rangers bullpen, which started out as a sign of improvement and has since turned into one giant cluster that makes no sense. There's no way they should've lost this game, and they should be the ones trailing the Houston Astros in the division right now. It's just another sign they're not there yet.

"We talk about not getting caught up in the moment," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. "It's hard to tell younger guys that in the moment. They've got to go through it."

This is another learning moment for this group, and you can't really blame them. Even after making two major splash signings with Corey Seager and Semien, the talent is still not quite there yet. And that's going to take time. Nevertheless, it's still a blown opportunity.

Not like their opponents starting Monday that took care of business over the Baltimore Orioles this weekend, taking two of three from the former worst team in the league.

Cleveland scored three runs in the first inning, and that's all that was needed. Andres Gimenez hit a three-run homer, and Zach Plesac struck out eight over the course of six innings while the bullpen shut the door.

"(Giménez) took a good swing and then we just hung on for dear life," manager Terry Francona said. "That's a long time to hang on."

This is a series that will see which team doesn't suck the most, and I think the Rangers are in need of showing that they can win these kinds of games. Woodward wants to attribute this as a teaching moment. This will certainly be one of them. Rangers win 6-4

Rangers are 10-24 on the road the past three seasons when the line is between +125 and -125.

Rangers are 13-22 against AL Central teams the past three seasons.

Rangers are 12-13 this season when the line is between +125 and -125 in all games.

Guardians are 19-23 against AL West teams the last three seasons.

Guardians are 5-3 at home this season when line is between -100 and -150.

Rangers:
Marcus Semien (R) 2B
Corey Seager (L) SS
Mitch Garver (R) DH
Kole Calhoun (L) RF
Jonah Heim (S) C
Adolis Garcia (R) CF
Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
Ezequiel Duran (R) 3B
Steele Walker (L) LF
SP - Jon Gray

Guardians:
Myles Straw (R) CF
Amed Rosario (R) SS
Jose Ramirez (S) 3B
Owen Miller (R) 1B
Andres Gimenez (L) 2B
Oscar Gonzalez (R) RF
Richie Palacios (L) DH
Luke Maile (R) C
Steven Kwan (L) LF
SP - Cal Quantrill

Batting average: Nathaniel Lowe -- .261

Home runs: Corey Seager -- 11

RBI: Adolis Garcia -- 36

Wins: Martin Perez -- 4

ERA: Martin Perez -- 1.56

Batting average: Jose Ramirez -- .291

Home runs: Jose Ramirez -- 14

RBI: Jose Ramirez -- 53

Wins: Nick Sandlin -- 4

ERA: Triston McKenzie -- 3.10