A crucial battle is set in Arlington tonight as the Texas Rangers face off against the Toronto Blue Jays. The stakes are high for both teams, but it’s the pitching that will dominate this showdown. Jacob deGrom has been near untouchable for Texas, with a 2.33 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 58 innings. On the other hand, Kevin Gausman, who is no slouch himself, brings his 4.03 ERA and 55 strikeouts to the mound for Toronto. However, Gausman has struggled on the road with a 5.27 ERA, and against a Rangers lineup hungry for runs, that’s a glaring vulnerability. Below, I’ve got my preview, prediction, and best bet for this Monday night baseball game between the Rangers and the Blue Jays.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Rangers vs. Blue Jays prediction, preview
To immediately counter the above point about Gausman’s road woes: Texas’ ace is in prime form, and deGrom has an even more stellar 1.47 ERA at home this season. The Rangers as a team are much stronger at home. At Globe Life Field, they’ve been a force, and Toronto is as bad on the road as they are at home. Gausman has had a decent season, but away from home, he’s been far too up-and-down. Meanwhile, deGrom has been near untouchable in Arlington.
DeGrom’s strikeout stuff is elite. The key stat here: deGrom has gone over 6.5 strikeouts in three consecutive outings, including his last against the Yankees, where he struck out nine. The Blue Jays have struggled against elite pitching, and with deGrom’s swing-and-miss stuff, expect him to rack up more punchouts today.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the big name in the Toronto lineup, but even he’s been off-track lately. Despite his seven home runs, Guerrero’s .276 batting average is far from the elite level we’ve seen in past seasons. Meanwhile, Toronto’s other key bats, like Bo Bichette and George Springer, haven’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard. The Blue Jays rank just 19th in runs per game, and with Gausman pitching against deGrom’s electric arm, the under seems like the sharp call.
The Rangers’ offense has also had its troubles, but players like Adolis García and Josh Jung are always capable of turning things around in a hurry. Garcia has 27 RBIs this season and has been clutch in key spots. Jung, meanwhile, has been consistent at the plate with a .288 batting average. But it’s deGrom’s dominance on the mound that will set the tone, especially against a Blue Jays team that’s floundering.
Blue Jays vs. Rangers pick, best bet
Betting trends back up this argument: The Rangers are 4-1 in deGrom’s last five starts, and they’ve won 17 of their last 27 games as favorites. Meanwhile, Toronto has struggled against elite pitching, losing six of its last seven against AL opponents. And with deGrom on the hill, there’s no reason to expect Toronto’s bats to come alive today. They’re lifeless.
With deGrom in full control and the Rangers’ superior pitching staff at home, the play is simple: Rangers -1.5. Solid value at +160. And with the Blue Jays mired in a rut that’ll make the most ardenhearted fans crestfallen, deGrom is too unstoppable a force right now.
Best bet: Rangers -1.5 (+160) vs. Blue Jays
DeGrom dedominates—tail it with me in the DKN Betting Group here!
