Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Prediction: Can the Bats Get to Ronel Blanco, Dane Dunning Tonight?
The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers end Sunday's MLB slate. Can the bats get to Ronel Blanco and Dane Dunning tonight? Krabs breaks down his Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers prediction.
Krabs - April 7, 2024, 2:10 PM EDT
5 minHouston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Prediction: Can the Bats Get to Ronel Blanco, Dane Dunning Tonight?
The start of the 2024 MLB season hasn’t been kind to the Astros. They’ve had to play some really good squads like the Yankees, Blue Jays and Rangers. Heading into tonight’s Sunday Night Baseball matchup with the Rangers, Houston is 2-7, looking to avoid being swept by Texas. They will have Ronel Blanco, fresh off a no hitter, on the bump tonight against the Rangers. Will that be enough to avoid getting swept on Sunday, or will the Rangers’ bats stay hot?
Astros vs. Rangers DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: April 7, 2024
- Start Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Prediction
If Ronel Blanco was going to follow up his no hitter with another gem on Sunday, the total wouldn’t be creeping up to double digits and the odds on the moneylines wouldn’t have flipped towards the Rangers. Oddsmakers are “tipping their hand” with this insanely high total and with the Rangers now the betting favorites.
More often than not, a pitcher regresses after a no-hit performance. I don’t know if it’s additional arm fatigue from the prior complete game or regression that affects these guys after a masterclass, but seeing the total moving up to o/u 10 is all I needed to see. Whether it’s Blanco or Dane Dunning, one of these two pitchers is getting roughed-up on Sunday.
I initially wanted to back the Rangers in this spot with the line flip on the moneyline, but I’m worried the scrappy Astros might steal one late in this contest. We know Houston relies more on their offense in road games compared to their low-scoring tendencies at home. After two straight high-scoring games in this series, I don’t see how the total stays under in Sunday’s series finale.
Dane Dunning was great for the Rangers out of the bullpen last year, but as soon as he gets thrown back into the starting rotation he falls apart. Dunning accumulated four walks in his first start of the season. He was able to navigate away from trouble against the Rays in that start, but if he struggles with his command against this veteran Astros team on Sunday, I don’t see how Houston doesn’t take advantage of the free bases.
Bet the over in the series finale between two of the best teams in baseball on Sunday. Sit back, relax and enjoy the offensive fireworks on ESPN before the work-week starts back up. This over is going to cash by the seventh-inning stretch, a great way to close out the weekend. I don’t know which team is going to carry the workload, but one of these two starting pitchers is getting lit up…
Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers Pick
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