Wednesday night features the rubber match of a three-game series between the Texas Rangers (45-28) and Chicago White Sox (32-43). The White Sox will host this one at Guaranteed Rate Field, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 pm ET.
After dropping the opener, the White Sox bounced back with a 7-6 win on Tuesday. In the victory, Elvis Andrus and Eloy Jimenez both homered and accounted for five runs batted in. Corey Seager had three hits and five runs batted in in the loss.
This matchup is currently a pick’em game. Both teams’ moneylines sit at -108. The White Sox are +1.5 on the runline (-166), and the over/under for total runs is 9.5.
Rangers Look To Keep Up Strong Start
At 45-28, the Texas Rangers currently lead the AL West by 4.5 games over the Los Angeles Angels. Hoping to keep up their strong start on the road, where they are 21-15, the Rangers will look to take the rubber match and secure the series win.
Texas will send 32-year-old southpaw Martin Perez to the mound for this one. In 14 games, he is 6-3 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and he has 54 strikeouts in 77.1 innings. In his last start, Perez took the loss despite giving up just two earned runs over six innings.
Offensively, the Rangers have been the strongest team in baseball averaging 6.10 runs per game (5.77 on the road). After homering in Tuesday’s game, Adolis Garcia leads the way hitting .263/.334/.493 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 58 runs batted in.
White Sox Trying To Compete In Weak AL Central
It has been a miserable start to the season for Chicago at 32-43, but the White Sox still have hope. Playing in one of baseball’s weakest divisions, the White Sox sit in fourth in the division, but they are only 4.5 games out of the division. Trying to stay competitive in the division, the White Sox will look to pick up the win in the finale.
Michael Kopech will take the ball in this one. The 27-year-old right is 3-5 in 14 games with a 3.92 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and he has 89 strikeouts in 78 innings. In his last three starts, Kopech has allowed a combined three earned runs over 16.1 innings of work.
The White Sox have struggled on the offensive side. They rank 25th in the majors, averaging just 4.07 runs per game.
Outfielder Luis Robert Jr has been the best hitter for Chicago thus far. In 271 at bats, he is hitting .262/.320/.535 with a team-leading 18 home runs and 47 runs scored. He also has 38 runs batted in.
Take The Rangers To Win The Finale
While Martin Perez is hardly dominant, this still feels like a tough game to not take the Rangers on. Michael Kopech has been inconsistent at best. Despite only giving up one earned run in his last start, he still lasted just 4.1 innings after allowing six hits and six walks.
While the Mariners were not able to cash in on Kopech’s wildness in that game, the Rangers’ top-ranked offense will be able to. Texas has been elite both at home and on the road, and there is no reason to think that won’t continue on Wednesday.
Take the Rangers to win this one straight up at -108.
