Dodgers vs Rangers Odds, Analysis, and Betting Prediction

mybookie App Download App

Download Remind me later

It’s a matchup of West Division leaders and a very realistic World Series preview on Friday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Texas Rangers, who are short underdogs on the MLB odds and might be without All-Star outfielder Adolis Garcia.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Texas Rangers | 2023 MLB Expert Analysis

How to Bet Los Angeles at Texas MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 8:05 PM ET
Where: Globe Life Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Tony Gonsolin/Andrew Heaney
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Dodgers -120, Rangers +100 (total 9)

Why Bet on LA Dodgers?

The NL West-leading Dodgers (55-40) are 4-2 out of the break but come off an 8-5 loss in Baltimore on Wednesday with a change to sweep the very good Orioles at Camden Yards. LA starter Julio Urías allowed eight earned runs, a career worst. Good thing the Dodgers were off on Thursday as their bullpen needed a break.

There was history made in Wednesday’s loss as good-looking LA rookie James Outman hit an opposite-field home run in the fourth off Dean Kremer, the first home run to left at Camden Yards by a left-handed batters at the ballpark since the left-field wall was lengthened and raised before the 2022 season. Outman hadn’t homered since hitting two on July 4. He has come out of the All-Star break well, slashing .353/.522/.588 with a stolen base. He has been showing a better eye at the plate, posting a 6:6 BB:K after recording a 26:104 mark in the first half.

Before Wednesday’s game, the team put outfielder Jake Marisnick on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain and called up OF Jonny Deluca from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers picked Jake Marisnick over Deluca last week, but Deluca is back now with Marisnick hurt. The 25-year-old hit .212/.278/.333 in 36 plate appearances during his first stint with the team. MVP candidate Freddie Freeman had a 19-game hitting streak end Wednesday but leads the Major Leagues with 34 doubles, is second with 53 extra-base hits, sixth in batting average (.320) and tied for third in total bases (210).

It’s Tony Gonsolin on the mound Friday. Gonsolin (5-3, 3.72 ERA) allowed two hits and one run in a no-decision against the Mets last Saturday. He walked one batter and struck out three. Gonsolin gave up a deep solo blast to Brandon Nimmo in the fourth inning but otherwise kept the Mets off the scoreboard. Yet he was pulled after throwing just 54 pitches.

Manager Dave Roberts clarified after the contest that the quick hook wasn’t due to an injury. “You could see Tony kind of battling with the humidity, the feel of the baseball. When you’re looking down at a fresh ‘pen, for me it was a no-brainer on shortening him right there as far as pitch count.”

This will be Gonsolin’s second start against the Rangers. He faced them on August 20, 2020 tossing three innings, giving up three hits, one run and three walks while striking out five. Gonsolin’s career 31-8 (.789) record through his first 61 career starts is the best in the modern era.

The Dodgers are 15-8 in their last 23 games and have won four straight series. Only Atlanta has a better overall record in the NL.

Bet Dodgers to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why Bet on Texas?

The Rangers are 6-0 out of the break, sweeping a three-game home series vs. a solid Cleveland team and then three at home against the Tampa Bay Rays, the team that had the AL’s best record for nearly the entire season. It’s the longest winning streak for the Mariners since also winning six in a row in 2019.

Alex Speas struck out his first three batters in relief in his big league debut for the Rangers on Wednesday. Speas had been through Tommy John surgery, the birth of his daughter and the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season without any games to play before stepping away from the pros for a while but worked his way back. He could be a key part of the bullpen going forward.

In Wednesday’s win, All-Star right fielder Adolis García got his MLB-leading 11th outfield assist when Josh Lowe tried to score from first base on Manuel Margot’s double to end the second inning. However, García left with a bruised left arm after getting hit by a pitch in the eighth and might miss a game or two. X-rays were negative. Garcia is hitting .259 with 24 homers and an MLB-best 80 RBI. He’s also stolen six bases and posted an OPS of .841.

“Caught him on the pad, but it hit him pretty good,” Manager Bruce Bochy said of Garcia. “I think he’ll be fine, but it’s day-to-day. It did swell up a little bit.”

The Rangers have yet to commit an error in the second half and the team has committed multiple errors in just 2 of the team’s last 73 games. Texas has 36 defensive runs saved in ’23, No. 2 in the majors. The Rangers’ six-game winning streak is its longest since also winning six in 2019. The 58-39 record has tied the best 97-game start in franchise history (also 58-39 in 2012).

It’s lefty Andrew Heaney (6-6, 4.43) on the mound Friday. Heaney earned the win last Saturday, allowing six hits and one walk over 5.1 scoreless innings against Cleveland. He struck out four. Heaney was able to keep the Guardians at bay for 5.1 innings despite allowing six hits, doing most of the damage with his four-seamer. It was the lefty’s fourth time this season in which he did not allow a run over five or more innings of work. Heaney has not made it through six innings in a start since May 21 against the Rockies.

Heaney is 4-3 with a 4.75 ERA (28 ER/53.0 IP) in 11 starts at home this year with 10.1 straight scoreless innings there. Heaney was with the Dodgers in 2022 only. He is 1-2 with a 5.67 ERA (21 ER/33.1 IP) in six career starts against his former team.

Bet Rangers to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Expert Prediction

Dodgers 6, Rangers 5

W: Wins | L: Losses | %: Winning Percentage | GB: Games Behind | STRK: Current Streak | HOME: Record at Home | AWAY: Record When Away

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?

Bet MLB Today
MyBookie Odds for the Games

MLB Betting Center

---

Updated MLB Betting Odds | Online Betting Lines