Texas Rangers vs Chicago White Sox Prediction and Betting Odds August 5
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WagerTalk MLB analyst Brian Ochsner offers his analysis of Friday’s Texas Rangers vs Chicago White Sox clash at Globe Life Field. The Rangers have won three of four matchups between these two teams on the season.
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| Friday, August 5 | MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars |
|---|---|
| Moneyline: | Texas Rangers +158 vs Chicago White Sox -190 |
| Runline: | Rangers +1.5 (-115) / White Sox -1.5 (-105) |
| Total: | 8 Runs (Over -105 / Under -115) |
| Game Time: | 8:05pm ET / 5:05pm PT |
| Where: | Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX |
| Weather: | Retractable Roof |
Texas Rangers vs Chicago White Sox Analysis
The Texas Rangers host the Chicago White Sox Friday night in the second game of a four game set. The home team took Thursday night’s game 3-2, and tonight it’ll be a battle of right-handers as Dylan Cease takes the bump for the south-siders and Glenn Otto gets the start for Texas. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 EDT / 5:05 PDT.
With all the injuries and controversy that’s plagued the White Sox, they’re still in the playoff hunt and only 3.0 games behind Tampa Bay for the final wild card spot. It seems like if this team could just stay healthy for most of the rest of the season, they could make the postseason.
Dylan Dicing Up Competition
This is Dylan Cease’s fourth and best year in the majors, as he’s posted a 2.01 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP in 21 starts in 116.2 innings with 161 strikeouts. With these numbers, the right-hander is in the conversation for the AL Cy Young award.
The only weakness in his game is allowing more free passes than you’d like to see (50), which is about four walks per nine innings. But he’s also kept the ball in the yard, only allowing nine home runs this season.
Cease has also pitched very well this year on the road. Away from the south side of Chicago, he has an ERA of 1.30 with a 1.34 WHIP and a 6-1 record in nine starts and 48.1 innings.
Get It Together Glenn!
The best thing you can say about Rangers starter Glenn Otto is that he’s been consistent in streaks. Seven of his first eight starts of the season he only gave up two earned runs or less, and in five of his last six July starts he’s given up three or four runs per outing. Although his season-long numbers aren’t great, he’s shown that he can compete at the big league level.
In 15 starts and 72.0 innings he’s posted a 5.50 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP, he’s struck out 57 batters, walked 38 and allowed 10 home runs. Free passes have been the biggest issue as he’s averaging five walks per nine innings, and he’s also allowed five long flies in July.
If Otto can get these issues fixed, he can be a solid major league starter. Although he’s not the better starting pitcher in this game, when you look closer at his numbers, he’s not a terrible major league starter.
Texas Rangers vs Chicago White Sox Prediction
Both teams have the same exact OPS for the year (.700), the White Sox have a better team average (.258 to .240) and the Rangers have more home runs – 131 to 91.
Chicago has the starting pitching edge, and Cease should be able to avoid (or minimize damage from) the long ball – although it is early August in Texas, and the ball should carry well. I’ll lean to the White Sox on the 1st 5 inning run line.
Prediction: White Sox 1st 5 Innings Run Line (-0.5)
First Pitch | MLB Predictions for Friday, August 5
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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 Friday’s baseball games, including this Texas Rangers vs Chicago White Sox showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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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.
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