Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction and Betting Odds August 11
Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Betting Preview
WagerTalk MLB analyst Brian Ochsner offers his analysis of Thursday’s Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers clash at Minute Maid Park. Each team has won a game in this series as we head into the rubber match today with Houston leading the AL West by 10.5 games.
Interested in joining WagerTalk at the Westgate’s SuperContest Weekend in Las Vegas? Click here to learn more about the activities (golf, basketball, handicapping panels and more) and the discounted room block as WagerTalk takes over Sin City in August.
| Thursday, August 11 | MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars |
|---|---|
| Moneyline: | Houston Astros -292 vs Texas Rangers +235 |
| Runline: | Astros -1.5 (-135) / Rangers +1.5 (+115) |
| Total: | 8.5 Runs (Over -100 / Under -120) |
| Game Time: | 2:10pm ET / 11:10am PT |
| Where: | Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX |
| Weather: | Retractable Roof |
Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Analysis
The Houston Astros host the Texas Rangers in a Thursday matinee and the finale of their three game series. Houston took game one 7-5 and the teams were tied 3-3 in the 9th inning at the time of this article.
It’s a battle of southpaws as rookie Cole Ragans takes the bump for Texas and Framber Valdez will take the ball for Houston. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 PM EDT.
Although both teams are in Texas, they’re just about total opposites on records for the season. Houston has a 71-40 record leading the AL West over Seattle by 11.0 games, and the Rangers 48-61, trailing the Astros by 22 games.
The home team is playing like we thought they would at the start of this season and the visitors have been disappointing.
Rangers Have High Hopes For Ragans
Cole Ragans has spent almost all this season with AA Frisco and AAA Round Rock, and has put up good numbers. He’s a combined 8-5 with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 18 starts and 94.2 innings.
The lefty has struck out 113 hitters and only allowed 75 hits and 10 home runs. Since Texas is out of playoff contention, it looks like the Rangers are getting a head start on taking a better look at their young talent.
A bright spot for Texas has been their ability to hit left-handed pitching. They have a 9th best OPS at .751 and the 4th most home runs against southpaws in 2022. Overall they’re still middle of the pack at 17th overall in OPS with a .239 team batting average.
Valdez Vaults Astros Pitching
Southpaw Framber Valdez has had a really good season for the Astros. He’s put up a 10-4 record with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. However, he hasn’t pitched as well at Minute Maid Park as he has on the road, with a 4.01 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in eight home starts.
Valdez has made two starts against the Rangers this year, with a 1-0 record in 13.0 combined innings, giving up 10 hits and one earned run.
Houston’s lineup has hit southpaws very well this season, with a 3rd best OPS and blasting 50 long flies versus lefties. Their bullpen has the lowest ERA in baseball, and 2nd lowest staff ERA at 3.00.
Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Prediction
When you look at the lines, there isn’t much value to be had on the Astros as they’re over a -300 favorite and the -1.5 run line isn’t cheap either at close to -150.
This will be the first time that Houston has faced Cole Ragans, and he’s performed well during his time in the minors. Texas has played Houston tough the first two games of this series, and I think they’ll continue that trend in game three. That’s why I’ll take Texas on the run line.
Prediction: Texas Rangers Run Line (+1.5)
First Pitch | MLB Predictions for Thursday, August 11
Join Drew Martin and a rotating panel of guests for First Pitch as we break down the daily baseball slate from a betting perspective. 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.
WagerTalk Live Odds Screen
WagerTalk’s Live Odds Screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the MLB moneylines, run lines and betting percentages for all of Thursday’s baseball games, including this Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers showdown, from your desktop or phone.
**************************************************
Meet the Author
Brian Ochsner graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in Accounting and Agribusiness. He’s a life-long baseball fan and “numbers guy” who tolerates the Colorado Rockies (bad ownership), and is a Denver Broncos and Kansas State Wildcats fan. Along with his interest in the sports wagering industry, he enjoys eating good BBQ, reading books on marketing, finance and economics, and playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker.
Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?
- Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: Vegas lines updated in real time, including who the public is betting on.
- Last Minute Handicapping Advice: Check out our extensive library of handicapping tips and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our sports betting tips video library)
- Want an expert opinion? Check out the latest Free Sports Picks and Best Bets from our team of expert sports handicappers.
Make sure to bookmark all the above!
