Rangers Win Total Prediction
After posting the best record in the American League in 2016, will the Texas Rangers be a team that will threaten to put up a big win-total again this season?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Rangers over/under for wins in 2017 has been set at 85. The over carries a money line of -120 while the under is set at -110. Their odds to win the 2017 World Series are listed at 35/1 currently, while their odds to win the ALCS are at 15/1.
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The Rangers managed to get to 95 wins despite having a run differential of just +8. They scored 765 runs while allowing 757. That issue showed up in the ALDS when they were swept by the Blue Jays, being outscored 10-22 in the three games. Jeff Bannister returns this season for his third with the team. He is 183-141 in his two years with the franchise, making the playoffs in both seasons. Last year’s 95 wins was the most Texas has had since 2011, when it reached the World Series.
Hitting wasn’t an issue for the Rangers last season, as three players had more than 85 RBI and six had 60 or more. The collective team batted .262 for the season. Adrian Beltre continued to put up big numbers in 2016, hitting .300 with 32 HR and 104 RBI. He struck out just 66 times. Rougned Odor hit .271 with 33 HR and 88 RBI. He was just rewarded with a new six-year contract. Elvis Andrus was another .300 hitter that is back this season. Ian Desmond is gone after hitting 22 HR with 86 RBI, but the team re-signed Carlos Gomez and Mike Napoli in the offseason. Gomez hit .284 with the Rangers before being moved to the Astros last season. Napoli is coming off a 34-HR, 101-RBI season with the Indians in 2016.
When it comes to pitching, there wasn’t a lot to like for the Rangers in 2016. Still, the team has some good pieces. Cole Hamels went 15-5 with 200 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA in 2016. Yu Darvish looked good after a long injury layoff, going 7-5 in 17 starts with a 3.41 ERA and 132 strikeouts over 100 innings. Martin Perez did win 10 games, but also had a 4.39 ERA and only 103 strikeouts. In the bullpen, Sam Dyson had 38 saves with a 2.43 ERA in 2016. He is back again this season. Matt Bush and Tony Barnette also were decent in the bullpen with ERA’s below 2.50.
The Rangers aren’t getting much respect this season. They had the top record in the AL a year ago. While it may have been a bit fluky, it still happened. Oddsmakers are calling for 10-less wins this year, despite the fact that Texas still has a great lineup. The pitching is a concern, but Darvish and Hamels still have what it takes to build a foundation for a rotation. The bullpen also seems solid, even if Dyson isn’t an overpowering closer. I like Texas to hit the over.
2017 MLB SEASON WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: TEXAS RANGERS OVER 85