On paper, the Blue Jays and Rangers should be contenders in a weak American League. That hasn’t been the case so far; both teams are currently hovering around .500. Last night, Texas eked out a 2-0 win thanks to seven scoreless innings from its relief pitchers. Tonight, Toronto will attempt to return the favor with a bullpen game of its own.
The Rangers enter Wednesday as favorites (-135) over the Blue Jays, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook going into tonight’s contest.
Blue Jays at Rangers prediction, preview
As previously mentioned, neither of these squads are lacking in talent. However, something has been off, especially on offense. Both teams rank inside the bottom six in runs scored per game despite rostering multiple All-Stars. For Texas, the absence of Corey Seager (hamstring) has had a major impact. Still, it’s been a frustrating campaign from Marcus Semien (44 wRC+), Adolis Garcia (77 wRC+) and several others. Toronto hasn’t fared much better, thanks to disappointing starts from offseason pickups Andres Gimenez (67 wRC+) and Anthony Santander (69 wRC+).
Despite looking lost at the plate, pitching has kept each club competitive in 2025. The Rangers will hand the ball to Tyler Mahle, currently on track for his first ever All-Star Game appearance. After battling injuries for the past three seasons, it’s been a bounce-back year for the crafty right-hander. Through 60.0 innings of work, he’s recorded a 1.80 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 43 strikeouts.
For the Blue Jays, Paxton Schultz will be the starter/’opener’ tonight. Over four games this season, the 27-year-old has accounted for a 2.53 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. On Sunday, the rookie tossed three innings without allowing an earned run vs. the Rays. After Schultz, it’s anyone’s guess as to who manager John Schneider will turn to next. Regardless, Toronto’s bullpen has the league’s 12th-lowest ERA (3.68), so there’s reason for optimism.
Blue Jays at Rangers pick, best bet
If you were making a list of the most frustrating teams in baseball, these two would rank near the top. That’s what makes tonight’s showdown so difficult to predict. It’s no coincidence that the Jays and Rangers have identical 7-8 records over their last 15 games.
If there’s a reason to lean towards the Rangers, it’s due to their advantage on the mound. Over his last five outings, Mahle has allowed a total of eight earned runs (2.54 ERA). Another factor in Texas’ favor? The return of Corey Seager. With their best hitter back from the injured list, the Rangers should get a much-needed jolt in their lineup. Through 26 games, the shortstop is slashing .300/.346/.520 with six homers and 12 RBIs. Texas has a record of 15-11 when the five-time All-Star plays this season.
On most evenings, it would be difficult to support a team that’s lost seven of its last nine contests. However, it’s not as if the Blue Jays have done anything to warrant faith in bettors this season. In a battle between two of baseball’s biggest enigmas, I’ll back Mahle and the Rangers to win by multiple runs.
Best Bet: Rangers -1.5 (+150)
In a potential low-scoring battle, Seager and the Rangers break through late against a tired Toronto bullpen.
