The Rangers and Blue Jays play the second game of their four-game series on Friday, June 26.
Texas is a -114 moneyline favorite, while Toronto is -105 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at over/under 8.5 runs.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Rangers vs. Blue Jays game.
Rangers vs. Blue Jays prediction, preview
It may be a light night for the Rangers’ bullpen since Nathan Eovaldi is starting game two of the series. He’s not the same All-Star pitcher from previous years, but he typically pitches deep into ball games. The 36-year-old has pitched at least seven frames in seven of 15 starts this season, including six of his last nine outings.
Despite his long outings, he’s not limiting damage like he used to. He’s allowed at least three earned runs in six straight games, some of which were against poor offensive squads. The Blue Jays are a bottom-third team in terms of runs scored, so typically this would be beneficial for Eovaldi, but his recent struggles may prove problematic.
If Eovaldi has a rare short start, the Rangers’ bullpen ranks ninth in ERA, so there’s a safety net for the veteran. Same can be said for the Blue Jays, who rank 11th in bullpen ERA this season. Unlike Texas, the bullpen will likely have a busy night.
Patrick Corbin is starting for Texas, and while the Rangers rank 28th in total runs scored, Corbin has been anything but inspiring since 2019. The 36-year-old has a 4.73 ERA this year, which is actually his third best mark during this span. There’s always the possibility for a great outing, but that’s unlikely considering he’s lasted between 3.0-3.2 innings over his last three games. Additionally, he has a 8.22 ERA across 15.1 innings in June—yikes.
Rangers vs. Blue Jays Pick, Best Bet
Two weak offensive teams face two struggling veteran pitchers. Eovaldi and Corbin have had poor stretches, but I’m been far more confident in Eovaldi thanks to his success in recent years. Corbin hasn’t had a good season since 2019.
The offenses don’t rank well in terms of runs scored, but they’ll come alive in this one. At least the Rangers will.
