Rangers vs Astros Parlay Today | MLB Odds, Expert Picks on Sunday, April 16
Via Carmen Mandato/Getty Images. Pictured: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros hits a home run during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on April 14, 2023 in Houston, Texas.
- The Astros face the Rangers in a battle between Texas' two MLB teams in primetime on Sunday Night Baseball.
- The Astros are favored in the rubber match of the weekend series, and MLB analyst Nick Shlain has a same game parlay ready for this matchup.
- Find his parlay picks and analysis below.
Rangers vs. Astros Odds
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+168 | 8 -102/ -120 | +1.5 -128 |
| Astros Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
| -200 | 8 -102/ -120 | -1.5 +106 |
While it's still early in the season, the Houston Astros are looking up at the Texas Rangers in the American League West standings entering play Sunday night. Houston is in third place at 7-8 while the Rangers sit in first place at 8-6. The Astros split the first two games of this series, which were their first two games against the AL West this season. The Astros struggled against AL Central teams so far by going 2-2 against the Chicago White Sox and 1-2 against both the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins. Houston only has a winning record against the Pittsburgh Pirates so far this year (2-1).
Will the defending champs get back on track on Sunday Night Baseball?
The Parlay (+458):
- Framber Valdez Over 6.5 Strikeouts
- Yordan Alvarez 2+ Total Bases
- Astros -1.5
Same-Game Parlay – Rangers vs Astros
Framber Valdez Over 6.5 Strikeouts
This strikeout line feels low for Valdez, the Astros' ace this season after the departure of Justin Verlander over the offseason. Last season, Valdez had a 23% Strikeout Rate. Valdez is strong against all batters as there's no drop-off in strikeouts for him versus right or left-handed hitters. Last year, he recorded a 23% Strikeout Rate against right-handed batters and a 25% Strikeout Rate against left-handed batters. The projected Rangers lineup has six hitters who posted at least a 24% Strikeout Rate against left-handed pitchers last season. I have Valdez projected for 7.7 strikeouts here, making this an easy value to start the parlay with.
Yordan Alvarez 2+ Total Bases
Alvarez is one of the best hitters in all of baseball. As a left-handed batter, he's otherworldly against right-handed pitching. That's not the matchup he'll get tonight at least at the beginning of the game as left-hander Andrew Heaney is set to start for the Rangers. Still, Alvarez had a .265 ISO against left-handed pitching last year, which is very good. One of his four home runs already this season came against a left-handed pitcher. He's still the same great hitter, but we get a little more value with him going up against a left-handed pitcher, plus there's always a chance that he faces a right-handed pitcher out of the bullpen later in the game. Also, we don't even need him to hit a home run here as a double or two singles will cover this leg of the prop.
Astros -1.5
I see the Astros winning a low scoring game here — well, low scoring for the Rangers that is. Without Corey Seager in the lineup, Texas' lineup really doesn't scare me going up against Valdez. Valdez not only gets a lot of strikeouts, but he's also adept at keeping the ball on the ground. He had a 67% Ground Ball Rate last year. I think the Rangers offense is in trouble here without Seager and could see them scoring three runs or fewer in this contest while I have the Astros projected for closer to five runs. I could also see them scoring more because Heaney allowed seven earned runs first start of the year before being knocked out in the third inning. Either way, I like the Astros on the run line to close us out here.
Rangers-Astros Parlay Pick: Valdez o6.5 Ks, Alvarez o1.5 Total Bases & Astros -1.5 (+458) |
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