Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Prediction, 10/16/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros

Date: Monday, October 16, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: FOX

Odds/Point Spread: Texas (+110) Houston (-130)

The Houston Astros (90-72) are hosting the Texas Rangers (90-72) at Minute Maid Park on Monday in Game 2 of the ALCS. The moneyline on this matchup has the Rangers at +110 while the Astros are priced at -130. The betting total is set at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Nathan Eovaldi and Framber Valdez.

As a team, the Texas Rangers are knocking in 5.4 runs per game, which ranks them 3rd in the league. They have racked up 881 runs and hold an on-base percentage of .337. The Rangers have hit 326 two-baggers as a squad and have smacked 233 baseballs out of the park. They have tallied 845 RBI's as well as 1,470 base knocks on the year, and their team batting average is sitting at .263. Texas is slugging .452 and have been called out on strikes 1,416 times, while taking a walk on 599 occasions.

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They have a K/BB ratio of 2.75 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.27. Rangers pitchers have surrendered 198 long balls and 716 runs (14th in the league). Texas has given up 1,330 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) as well as 683 earned runs. The Rangers have a team earned run average of 4.28 on the campaign (18th in the league), and the staff has rung up 1,351 hitters. They have walked 491 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.32 as a squad this season.

The Rangers have sent 467 relievers to the mound this season. The relief pitchers have inherited 273 base runners for the season with 31.5% of those players earned a run for their team. They have accumulated 30 saves this year and have missed out on 33 of their 63 chances to get a save. The Rangers bullpen have recorded a save rate of 47.6% and has stepped onto the mound in 146 save situations. The relief pitchers have earned 80 holds so far this season (20th in the league). Rangers relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 163 times as well as having 160 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Texas Rangers have accounted for 4,309 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 1,423 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .990 which ranks 2nd in MLB, and have 143 double plays. The Rangers have turned 70.3% of balls in play into outs out of 12,927 innings on the field, which has them sitting 4th in professional baseball.

Eovaldi has pitched in 1,401 innings and has racked up 1,192 K's in his pro baseball career. Eovaldi (79-73 career win-loss record) has a FIP of 3.83 while facing 5,932 batters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 4.10 (639 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.303. He has surrendered 1,424 hits (9.1 hits per nine innings) and has had 403 walks.

The Houston Astros have an OBP of .331 as well as a batting average of .259 for the season. They have struck out on 1,241 occasions (28th in the league) and have a total of 1,441 base hits. Houston is sitting with 222 long balls for the year as well as 799 RBIs. The Astros have a slugging percentage of .437 and they are recording 5.10 runs per outing (5th in MLB). They have notched 280 two-baggers, while taking a walk 550 times and scoring 827 runs.

The Astros hold a team WHIP of 1.279 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.31 as a unit this season. They are currently ranked 8th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 1,312. The Houston pitching staff have surrendered 698 runs this year while having a team ERA of 3.94 (632 earned runs given up). Their K/BB ratio sits at 9.10 (1,460 strikeouts against 537 walks). They have conceded 201 home runs and they relinquish 4.35 runs per 9 innings (9th in the league).

With 148 save situations, the Astros have accrued 86 holds in addition to 19 blown saves. Houston has had relief pitchers enter the game in 61 save opportunities and they have come away with 42 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 151 times in high leverage situations in addition to 97 occasions with runners on. Houston relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 31.1% out of their 161 inherited runners. They are ranked 6th in MLB with a save percentage of 68.9%, and they have dispatched 513 relievers onto the diamond this season.

The Houston Astros have gotten 144 double plays and have a fielding rate of .986 (14th in pro baseball). The Astros have accrued 1,346 assists, 81 errors and have accounted for 4,336 putouts this year. In 13,008 innings on the diamond, the Astros hold a efficiency on defense of 69.7% (10th in the majors).

In his MLB career, Valdez has allowed 601 base hits and he has 697 punch outs in 712 innings pitched. He has given up a total of 269 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.217 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.6. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.62 and he has gone up against 2,978 opposing hitters during his MLB career. Valdez (53-34 mark in his career) has earned a 3.40 earned run average and has conceded 7.6 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Texas (+110)

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