Rays vs. Rangers Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 9/16/2022

Mark Mathias leads the Texas Rangers (62-81) into Friday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays (80-63) on a two-game homer streak. His Rangers are underdogs for the contest, however, with oddsmakers naming the Rays as -145 moneyline favorites. The game starts at 7:10 PM ET from Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay’s Corey Kluber and Texas’ Martin Perez have been named the starters for this contest.

Rays vs. Rangers Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Rays vs. Rangers

After looking at all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup, our best bet is the Rangers on the moneyline at +123. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 7 runs.

Our computer pick: Texas Rangers (+123) and Over (7)

Rays vs. Rangers Game Info

• Tampa Bay Rays probable starting pitcher: Corey Kluber
• Texas Rangers probable starting pitcher: Martín Pérez
• Game Day: Friday, September 16, 2022
• Game Time: 7:10 PM ET
• Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
• Stadium: Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers Pitching Matchup

Rays Starter Corey Kluber

• The Rays are sending Kluber (10-8) out for his 28th start of the season. He is 10-8 with a 4.36 ERA and 122 strikeouts through 142 1/3 innings pitched.
• The right-hander’s last time out came on Saturday against the New York Yankees, when he went two-thirds of an inning, surrendering six earned runs while allowing eight hits.
• The 36-year-old has an ERA of 4.36, with 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings, in 27 games this season. Opponents are batting .266 against him.
• Kluber is looking to record his 15th quality start of the season in this matchup.
• Kluber will try to collect his 23rd game of five or more innings pitched this season. He averages 5.1 innings per appearance.
• The opposing Rangers offense has a collective .242 batting average, and is 13th in the league with 1180 total hits and 11th in MLB action with 643 runs scored. It has the 12th-ranked slugging percentage (.401) and ranks eighth in home runs (177) in all of MLB.
• Kluber has pitched six innings, giving up one earned run on four hits while striking out four against the Rangers this season.

Rangers Starter Martín Pérez

• Perez (11-6) will take to the mound for the Rangers and make his 29th start of the season.
• The left-hander’s last start was on Sunday, when he tossed 6 2/3 innings while giving up one earned run on six hits in a matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
• The 31-year-old has pitched to a 2.77 ERA this season with 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 3.0 walks per nine across 28 games.
• If he completes six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs allowed, he’ll earn his third quality start in a row.
• Pérez has 26 starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Rays are batting .242 this season, 14th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .382 (21st in the league) with 127 home runs.
• The Rays have gone 3-for-24 in one game against the left-hander this season.
• Among qualified pitchers this season, the 31-year-old’s 2.77 ERA ranks 11th, 1.227 WHIP ranks 33rd, and 8.2 K/9 ranks 25th.

Rays Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Rays have won 60 out of the 95 games, or 63.2%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Tampa Bay has entered 55 games this season favored by -145 or more and is 36-19 in those contests.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Rays have a 59.2% chance to win.
• So far this season, Tampa Bay and its opponents have hit the over in 66 of their 143 games with a total.
• The Rays are 69-74-0 ATS in their 143 games with a spread this season.

Rangers Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rangers have won in 40, or 44.9%, of the 89 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• This season, Texas has been victorious 19 times in 49 chances when named as an underdog of at least +123 or longer on the moneyline.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Rangers have a 44.8% chance of pulling out a win.
• Texas and their opponents have gone over in 70 of their 144 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Rangers are 78-66-0 against the spread in their 144 games that had a posted line this season.

Rays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yandy Diaz’s .294 average leads the Rays this year. His resume also includes nine homers and driven in 54 RBI.
• Among all MLB hitters, Diaz ranks 17th in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, and 67th in slugging.
• Diaz carries a two-game hitting streak into this matchup. During his last five outings he is hitting .353 with a home run, a walk and three RBI.
• Randy Arozarena has hit 19 home runs with 79 runs batted in. Both lead his team.
• Of all MLB hitters, Arozarena is 61st in home runs and 26th in RBI.
• Harold Ramirez is hitting .315 with 20 doubles, six home runs and 18 walks.
• David Peralta is batting .254 with 28 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 36 walks.
• Peralta takes a two-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last five games he is batting .294 with two walks and an RBI.

Rangers Leaders & Batting Stats

• Marcus Semien is hitting .247 with 28 doubles, five triples, 23 home runs and 47 walks.
• Semien is 39th in home runs and 36th in RBI among all hitters in the majors.
• Semien has collected a hit in four games in a row. In his last five games he is batting .348 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and six RBI.
• Corey Seager has hit a team-high 30 home runs.
• Among all MLB batters, Seager is 12th in home runs and 35th in RBI.
• Adolis Garcia has racked up a team-high 92 runs batted in.
• Nate Lowe leads the Rangers with a .309 batting average.