Free MLB Picks Today: Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers 9/16/22

The Texas Rangers (62-81) are on the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays (80-63) at Tropicana Field on Friday for the opener of a three-game series. The Rangers split their last series against the Athletics, dropping the finale 8-7 on Wednesday at Globe Life Field. Jonah Heim was 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs. The Rays are playing the first of 10 games at home after returning from an eight-game road trip (3-5). They lost three of five against the Blue Jays in their last series, taking the finale 11-0 on Thursday at Rogers Centre. Isaac Paredes went 2 for 3 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs. Randy Arozarena went 3 for 5 with a double, one run, and one RBI.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The teams have split their games this season 2-2, as the Rays evened the season series with a 3-1 victory in their most recent meeting on June 2 at Globe Life Field. Starter Corey Kluber went six innings to get the win, allowing one run on four hits, and Ryan Thompson picked up his third save with a scoreless ninth.

ON THE MOUND

Martin Perez (11-6, 2.82 ERA) is in line to start for Texas. The LHP allowed one run over six innings in his last start, a 4-1 road win over the Blue Jays on Sunday. He was credited with the win, giving up six hits while striking out seven and walking two. Perez has made one previous start against the Rays this season, a 3-0 home victory on May 31. He allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out five. For Tampa Bay, righty Kluber (10-8, 4.00 ERA) will toe the rubber. He has made one prior start against the Rangers this season, giving up one runs over six innings in a 3-1 road win on June 2. He gave up four hits while striking out four in the win.In his last start on Saturday, Kluber took the loss on the road against the Yankees. He threw 0.2 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits in the 10-3 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

The Texas offense is averaging 4.5 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .243/.306/.401. Nathaniel Lowe leads the team in OPS at .866. The first baseman is slashing .309/.363/.503 with 24 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 66 runs over 138 games. Over the last five games, however, Texas has averaged 5.6 runs a game while performing better across the board (.257/.321/.550). Against righties like Kluber this season, the Rangers have a .685 OPS. Lowe also is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .814 OPS in 365 at-bats. Tampa Bay is slashing .242/.310/.381 for the season and averaging 4.2 runs per game. Yandy Diaz leads the team with a .824 OPS. The third baseman has nine home runs, 54 RBIs, and 68 runs scored with a slash line of .295/.404/.421. The Rays have a .707 OPS against southpaws in 2022. With a .919 OPS over 110 at-bats, Arozarena has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Texas is 32-40 away from Globe Life Field in 2022, scoring 4.7 runs per game while allowing 4.3 runs. Tampa Bay has won three in a row in front of their home fans. The Rays are 47-24 at home this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.3. The teams have split their last 10 meetings at Tropicana Field, though Texas has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 4.1-3.4.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Rangers are third in the AL West, 31 games behind the division-leading Astros. The Rays are third in the AL East, seven games behind the Yankees. They currently occupy one of the Wild Card spots, sitting third with a magic number of zero.