Texas Rangers vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Preview and Odds - 06/09/2023

Game Time: 6:40 pm ET, Friday, June 9, 2023

Venue:  Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Where to Watch:  BSSUN

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +150, Rays -175; Over/Under:  NL runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +150, Rays -175; Over/Under:  NL runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rangers +150, Rays -175; Over/Under:  NL runs

Texas Rangers:  40-21 (1st place, AL West)

Tampa Bay Rays:  45-19 (1st place, AL East)

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Texas Rangers:  7-3 last 10

Tampa Bay Rays:  7-3 last 10

The Rangers are entering this game off of a loss in their last game but won their 3-game series against the St Louis Cardinals 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 40-21 record overall and have a road record of 19-12. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Rays on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 2nd in the MLB with a .802 OPS. Jon Gray was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Andrew Heaney is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 4-3 with a 4.03 ERA this season. His team won their last 4 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 3 ER, 0 HR, and 4 BB with 5 Ks on 6 hits through 3 IP against the Seattle Mariners.

The Rays are entering this game on a 5 game winning streak and won their 4-game series against the Boston Red Sox 3-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 45-19 record overall and have a home record of 28-6. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Rangers on Friday with the series finale of their series against the Minnesota Twins still to be played on Thursday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .816 OPS. Yonny Chirinos is their starting pitcher on Thursday while Tyler Glasnow is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 0-0 with a 3.72 ERA this season. His team won their last game this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 earned run, 0 homers, and 3 BB with 6 strikeouts on 4 hits through 5.1 innings played against the Boston Red Sox.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have the best record in the MLB at the moment and they also have the best offense in the MLB too, but the Rangers are right behind them with the 2nd best offense and the 2nd best record overall. These are the only 2 teams in the MLB to get to 40+ wins at the moment but the Rays have a big advantage being at home with how good they have been there this season. The Rays also have Glasnow starting here who has been great in his few starts this year while the Rangers are going with Heaney who hasn't been nearly as good this season and that gives a big pitching advantage to the Rays with this matchup. Heaney hasn't been terrible but he has been really up and down in his starts and has given up quite a few runs in a majority of his starts. Glasnow hasn't started in as many games this season but he has been really good in his few starts and also has a really good bullpen behind him which the Rangers do not have. These may be the 2 best teams in the MLB at the moment but all signs point to the Rays at home here with this pitching matchup as they will continue to roll like they have been doing lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game.

Rangers Rays Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, June 9, 2023 (6:40 pm ET start time) is Rays 6 Rangers 2.

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Texas Rangers: 15-27 (-8.8 units) on the moneyline after 6 or more consecutive home games. 44-63 (-9.8 units) on the moneyline after a loss by 2 runs or less. 17-7 OVER after allowing 2 runs or less. 9-5 OVER after a game where the bullpen threw 1 inning or less.

Tampa Bay Rays: 45-19 (+21.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 28-6 (+19.9 units) on the moneyline in home games. 21-12 OVER in home games. 8-4 OVER against left-handed starters. 

Texas Rangers:  J. deGrom (SP) out for season - Elbow. B. Miller (DH) Mid June - Oblique. J. Barlow (RP) Mid June - Illness. G. Otto (RP) Mid June - Shoulder. J. Odorizzi (SP) out for season - Shoulder. B. Martin (RP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder.

Tampa Bay Rays:  B. Lowe (2B) Late June - Back. P. Fairbanks (RP) Mid June - Hip. C. Faucher (RP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. J. Fleming (SP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. D. Rasmussen (RP) Early Aug - Elbow. Z. Littell (RP) Mid June - Shoulder. G. Cleavinger (RP) out for season - Knee. J. Springs (RP) out for season - Elbow. S. Baz (SP) out for season - Elbow. A. Kittredge (RP) Late July - Elbow.

“He’s a really good hitter down and in with spin. It was supposed to be away.” - Jon Gray after their loss against the Cardinals in their game on Wednesday.

“He’s got a knack for it. He seems to elevate his game when we need it most.” - Kevin Cash on Randy Arozarena after his team’s win against the Twins in their game on Wednesday.

Marcus Semien (R) 2B

Corey Seager (L) SS

Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B

Josh Jung (R) 3B

Jonah Heim (S) DH

Travis Jankowski (L) CF

Robbie Grossman (S) RF

Josh H. Smith (L) LF

Sandy Leon (S) C

Josh Lowe (L) RF

Wander Franco (S) SS

Randy Arozarena (R) LF

Luke Raley (L) 1B

Harold Ramirez (R) DH

Isaac Paredes (R) 3B

Taylor Walls (S) 2B

Christian Bethancourt (R) C

Manuel Margot (R) CF

Batting Average:  Corey Seager (.336)

Hits:  Marcus Semien (76)

Home Runs:  Adolis Garcia (15)

RBI:  Adolis Garcia (52)

Stolen Bases:  Marcus Semien (7)

Wins:  Nathan Eovaldi (8)

Saves:  Will Smith (11)

ERA:  Nathan Eovaldi (2.24)

Batting Average:  Yandy Diaz (.316)

Hits:  Wander Franco (72)

Home Runs:  Yandy Diaz (12)

RBI:  Randy Arozarena (43)

Stolen Bases:  Wander Franco (21)

Wins:  Shane McClanahan (9)

Saves:  Jason Adam (9)

ERA:  Chase Anderson (0.00)

Managers:

Texas Rangers: Bruce Bochy (1st season)

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (9th season)