The Texas Rangers (9-14) and Philadelphia Phillies (11-13) close out a 2-game series Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rangers vs. Phillies odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Rangers lead 1-0
Texas went into this series with a .582 OPS over its previous 15 games, but the Rangers had a pair of home runs and 9 other hits in Tuesday’s 6-4 win.
The Phillies have dropped 3 of their last 4. A key error led to 3 unearned runs in Tuesday’s loss.
Rangers at Phillies projected starters
LHP Martin Perez vs. RHP Zack Wheeler
Perez (0-2, 3.00 ERA) makes his fifth start. He owns a 1.00 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9, and 6.9 K/9 through 21 IP.
- Phillies batters own an aggregate .954 OPS against him.
- Has benefited from a .267 batting average on balls in play and no fly balls landing on the run-scoring side of the outfield fence.
Wheeler (1-3, 5.79 ERA) makes his fifth start. He has a 1.39 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9, and 8.7 K/9 in 18 2/3 IP.
- Tossed 6 shutout, 1-hit innings in Thursday’s last vs. Colorado.
- Logged a 2.78 ERA in 213 1/3 IP last season.
Rangers at Phillies odds and lines
- Money line: Rangers +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Phillies -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-145) | Phillies -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Rangers at Phillies picks and predictions
Prediction
Phillies 5, Rangers 2
Money line
PASS. The Phillies figure to be generally undervalued, but they are overpriced here.
Run line/Against the spread
With 110 runs scored against 104 allowed, the Phillies should have a better record. Support numbers indicate better things ahead on both sides of that equation.
This Philadelphia club hit Perez hard a couple of times last year. The Phillies have a solid .764 OPS against southpaws, and the back end of their bullpen has more bullets in the chamber for this one.
TAKE PHILADELPHIA -1.5 (+120).
Over/Under
Both bullpens are in good shape — although Texas will be conservative with back-end arms used in Tuesday’s 6-4 win — and there is some lean toward Wheeler. Consider a partial-unit play on the UNDER 7.5 (+105).