Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Prediction, 10/23/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros

Date: Monday, October 23, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: FS1

The Houston Astros welcome the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on Monday for Game 7 of the ALCS. The starting pitchers will be Max Scherzer and Cristian Javier.

The Rangers have accounted for 326 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 233 baseballs out of the park. Texas has a slugging % of .452 and have been called out on strikes 1,416 times, while taking a walk on 599 occasions. As a team, the Texas Rangers are scoring 5.4 runs per contest, which is 3rd in the league. They have recorded 845 runs batted in and 1,470 hits over the course of the season, and their team batting average is at .263. They have racked up 881 runs while having a team OBP of .337.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.75 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.27. Rangers pitchers have allowed 198 long balls and 716 total runs (14th in the league). Texas has given up 1,330 hits (8.3 per 9 innings) as well as 683 earned runs. The Rangers are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.28 for the season (18th in the league), and their staff has rung up 1,351 batters. They have walked 491 batters and their FIP comes in at 4.32 as a unit on the season.

The Rangers have dispatched 467 relievers to the hill for the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 273 runners this year with 31.5% of those players ended up crossing the plate. They have accumulated 30 saves so far this year and have blown 33 of 63 chances to get a save. The Rangers relievers have earned a save rate of 47.6% and has entered the game in 146 save situations. The relief pitchers have racked up 80 holds this year (20th in baseball). Rangers relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 163 times and also have had 160 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Texas Rangers have accumulated 4,309 putouts this season, in addition to 1,423 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .990 which is 2nd in the majors, and have accumulated 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 ranked 4th in the majors.

Scherzer (214-108 mark in his career) has earned a FIP of 3.17 while he has gone up against 11,452 batters in the major leagues. He has conceded 2,306 base knocks (7.3 hits per 9 innings) and has had 746 free passes. His ERA is 3.15 (991 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.077. Scherzer has taken the hill for 2,834 frames and has earned 3,367 K's so far in his career.

The Houston Astros are sitting with an on-base percentage of .331 and a batting average of .259 on the campaign. They have struck out on 1,241 occasions (28th in baseball) and have 1,441 hits. Houston is sitting with 222 home runs for the season to go along with 799 runs batted in. The Astros have a team slugging % of .437 and they are earning 5.10 runs per game (5th in the league). They have put up 280 doubles, while taking a walk 550 times as well as putting up 827 runs.

The Astros are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.279 in addition to having a FIP of 4.31 as a team this season. They are currently ranked 8th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,312. The Houston pitching staff have allowed 698 runs for the season while holding a team ERA of 3.94 (632 earned runs relinquished). Their K/BB ratio is 9.10 (1,460 strikeouts against 537 walks). They have allowed 201 dingers and they relinquish 4.35 runs per 9 innings (9th in MLB).

Houston has had relief pitchers enter the game in 61 save chances and they have converted 42 saves. They are currently ranked 6th in the league with a save rate of 68.9%, and they have sent 513 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond on the year. Their relievers have come in 151 times in high leverage situations and on 97 occasions with base runners. Houston relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 31.1% out of 161 inherited runners. With 148 save situations, the Astros have earned 86 holds and 19 blown saves.

The Houston Astros have turned 144 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (14th in baseball). The Astros have racked up 1,346 assists, 81 errors and have earned a total of 4,336 putouts for the season. Out of their 13,008 innings on the diamond, the Astros are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 69.7% (10th in MLB).

Javier (30-17 career mark) has earned a 3.57 ERA while allowing 6.5 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.90 and he has faced 1,910 batters so far in his MLB career. He has conceded 185 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.115 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.1. During his MLB career, Javier has allowed 335 base hits while totaling 537 strikeouts in 466 frames.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston

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