{"id":5750,"date":"2022-04-28T09:36:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T13:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=5750"},"modified":"2022-04-28T12:29:37","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T16:29:37","slug":"rangers-vs-astros-prediction-and-betting-odds-april-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/mlb\/rangers-vs-astros-prediction-and-betting-odds-april-28\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers vs Astros Prediction and Betting Odds April 28"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rangers vs Astros Betting Preview and Odds<\/h2>\n

Houston has taken two of three from the Rangers as Texas tries to even things up before welcoming in the defending World Series Champion Braves tomorrow. WagerTalk MLB Analyst Brian Ochsner offers his Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros betting preview for Thursday, April 28, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:05pm ET \/ 11:05am PT.<\/p>\n

Stay on top of the latest MLB news and betting notes<\/a> from Vegas!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Thursday, April 28<\/th>\nMLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Moneyline:<\/td>\nTexas Rangers +150 vs Houston Astros -160<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Runline:<\/td>\nRangers +1.5 (-115) \/ Astros -1.5 (-105)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total:<\/td>\n8 Runs (Over -115 \/ Under -105)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Game Time:<\/td>\n2:05pm ET \/ 11:05am PT<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Where:<\/td>\nGlobe Life Field in Arlington, TX<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weather:<\/td>\n78 Degrees \/ Clear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Rangers vs Astros Analysis<\/h2>\n

The Houston Astros finish a four-game set with the Texas Rangers Thursday afternoon as Justin Verlander goes against Martin Perez. The Rangers have dropped two of the first three games, and hope to even it up.<\/p>\n

Offense Getting Together For Astros<\/h3>\n

Justin Verlander is pitching this season like he never had Tommy John surgery. In three starts he’s pitched 19.0 innings with a 1.89 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, giving up 10 hits, four walks and three home runs.<\/p>\n

The last number is the only cause for pause, but they were against two of the best hitting lineups in baseball, the Angels and the Blue Jays – and coming off a shortened spring training.<\/p>\n

Houston’s offense has picked up the pace the last two games, scoring a combined nine runs. Team hitting is just below average at 19th in league OPS, team batting average is barely above the Mendoza line at .209 – but the sticks are trending in the right direction.<\/p>\n

Two Astros hitters with a lot of success off Perez are Yuri Gurriel, 7-for-14 with 2 RBI and Martin Maldonado, 9-for-15 with 4 RBI. Something to keep in mind for possible prop bets or your daily fantasy lineups.<\/p>\n

Semien Surprisingly Solid Versus Verlander<\/h3>\n

Martin Perez started the year with a couple of rocky starts at Globe Life Field, but pitched well in his last outing at Oakland. The Venezuelan left-hander went 6.0 innings, gave up just two hits, one walk, no earned runs and struck out five.<\/p>\n

His career numbers are nothing to write home about, with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP in over 1,100 innings of work.<\/p>\n

The Texas offense is very similar to Houston’s as they’re just behind the Astros at 21st in team OPS at .635, with a slightly better team average of .227.<\/p>\n

One bright spot in the Texas lineup: Rangers shortstop Marcus Semien has a lifetime .323 batting average against Verlander in 31 at-bats.<\/p>\n

Rangers vs Astros Prediction<\/h2>\n

The Astros have the starting pitching edge, the better bullpen and they’re the defending American League champs. For the Rangers, there’s no way to sugar-coat it: They aren’t very good, and one of the worst teams in the American League.<\/p>\n

While I think Houston could cover the full game money line, it all depends on the relievers. And bullpens are kind of like ripe fruit: You never know when they could go bad. That’s why I’ll take the Astros on the 1st 5 innings run line.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Astros 1st 5 Innings Run Line<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Caesars<\/a><\/p>\n

Interested in placing a bet on Thursday’s Rangers vs Astros AL West clash? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 match bet<\/a> for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.<\/em><\/p>\n

First Pitch | MLB Betting Preview for April 28<\/h3>\n

Join Drew Martin and a rotating panel of guests for First Pitch as we break down the daily baseball slate from a betting perspective. Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez takes his MLB best 0.52 ERA into Nationals Park for his start against Washington tonight. Join WagerTalk’s team of MLB betting experts every weekday at 1:45pm ET \/ 10:45am PT for First Pitch as we discuss the baseball betting slate.<\/p>\n

\"MLB