Rangers vs. Braves Pick
Will the Texas Rangers win again at the Atlanta Braves when they resume their series Tuesday night at 7:35PM EST?
The Braves are a -120 favorite to win on the moneyline according to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv. The Rangers are a +100 underdog, while the over-under is set at 9.5.
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Miguel Gonzalez (7-10, 4.31 ERA) will draw the start for the Rangers, while the Braves counter with Luiz Gohara in his MLB debut. Gonzalez has a 1.44 WHIP with 85 strikeouts over 133 2/3 innings. This will be Gonzalez’ first start for Texas after being acquired from the White Sox. In his last outing on August 31, he gave up three earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks over six innings in a 5-4 loss at the Twins. The 21-year-old Gohara has pitched at three minor league levels this season. He has a combined 2.62 ERA in 26 appearances (25 starts) with a 1.21 WHIP and 147 strikeouts over 123 2/3 innings.
Texas has a 69-68 overall record and is 32-38 on the road, while Atlanta comes in at 60-76 and 29-37 at home. The Rangers won 8-2 Monday in the first meeting between the two teams since 2014.
In the series opener, Rougned Odor was 2-for-3 with a home run plus a double for two runs and three RBIs. Nomar Mazara was 2-for-5 with a home run. Elvis Andrus hit a solo home run. Carlos Gomez finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs. Andrew Cashner allowed two earned runs over six innings to get the win. Nick Markakis led the Braves as he was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run. Matt Adams hit a two-run homer, while Freddie Freeman added two hits. R.A. Dickey gave up seven runs (six earned) over 4 1/3 innings to pick up the win.
Gohara might be making his MLB debut and it’s best to take a wait and see approach with most new pitchers, but he has been good at every level this year. He should be the better pitcher in this matchup with Gonzalez having a track record of being very hittable. Look for the tables to reverse in game two of this series.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: ATLANTA BRAVES -120