The MLB Postseason Drama Unfolds!
After a drama-filled conclusion to the regular season last weekend, the MLB Postseason is officially set. The Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Texas Rangers in an American League Wild Card showdown. The series gets underway on Tuesday with Game 1 in Tampa. Here’s how the Rays and Rangers stack up heading into their Wild Card Series.
All MLB odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Rays vs. Rangers Wild Card Series: Moneyline, Total Games, and Correct Score
Series Moneyline:
- Rays: -170
- Rangers: +138
Total Games:
- 2 (-118)
- 3 (-102)
Correct Score:
- Rays 2-0 (+184)
- Rays 2-1 (+250)
- Rangers 2-1 (+320)
- Rangers 2-0 (+360)
Rays vs. Rangers Advanced Stats Breakdown
Statistics provided by numberFire and FanGraphs.
Rays:
- W-L Record: 99-63 (4th)
- Run Differential: +195 (3rd)
- Home Record: 53-28
- Away Record: 46-35
- nERD: 1.79 (1st)
Offensive Stats:
- HRs: 230 (6th)
- wOBA: .335 (4th)
- SLG: .445 (4th)
- BB%: 8.3% (23rd)
- K%: 23.0% (16th)
Pitching Stats:
- SIERA: 3.78 (2nd)
- xFIP: 3.84 (1st)
- K%: 25.1% (2nd)
- BB%: 7.3% (3rd-best)
Rangers:
- W-L Record: 90-72 (6th)
- Run Differential: +165 (4th)
- Home Record: 50-31
- Away Record: 40-41
- nERD: 0.99 (8th)
Offensive Stats:
- HRs: 233 (4th)
- wOBA: .340 (3rd)
- SLG: .452 (3rd)
- BB%: 9.5% (5th)
- K%: 22.5% (15th)
Pitching Stats:
- SIERA: 4.24 (18th)
- xFIP: 4.35 (18th)
- K%: 22.4% (21st)
- BB%: 8.1% (11th-best)
Rays vs. Rangers Wild Card Series Analysis
This showdown between two sides with top-six records in the league is more fitting for a League Champions Series than a Wild Card clash, but here we are.
After their historic start to the season, the Rays were eventually overtaken by an exceptional Baltimore Orioles side. Tampa Bay finished second in the AL East despite having the fourth-best record in baseball and the second-best record in the American League.
The Rangers stumbled at the final hurdle, dropping three of their last four to the Seattle Mariners to lose the AL West crown — and a first-round bye — to the Houston Astros. Houston won their final four games of the season to secure the shocking comeback.
Neither team has time to look back at what could have been. This marquee Wild Card meeting will see one team’s hopes of a World Series dashed immediately.
As it stands, the Rays (-170) are the favorites to win the series. While they are a slightly worse side on offense than Texas, the Rays hold a sizable advantage on the mound. The Rangers rank outside the top 15 in SIERA, xFIP, and K%. Max Scherzer could help change that, but he is still recovering from a muscle strain in his upper arm and is unlikely to pitch this postseason.
Still, the Rangers’ lineup has firepower from top to bottom and presents an intriguing matchup for the Rays’ arms.
That said, the Rays are favorites to win Game 1 (-152), the series, and have the fifth-best odds to win the World Series (+1200). Of the 12 postseason hopefuls, the Rangers have the fourth-worst odds to win the whole thing (+2000).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What are the odds of the Rays winning the Wild Card Series?
- The Rays are the favorites with odds at -170 to win the series.
2. How do the Rays and Rangers compare in terms of offensive stats?
- The Rays have a strong offense, ranking 6th in HRs and 4th in wOBA and SLG, while the Rangers are 4th in HRs, 3rd in wOBA, and 3rd in SLG.
3. Who has the better pitching stats between the Rays and Rangers?
- The Rays have the upper hand in pitching with 2nd in SIERA, 1st in xFIP, and 2nd in K%, while the Rangers lag behind in these categories.
4. Are there any injuries affecting the Rangers’ pitching?
- Yes, Max Scherzer of the Rangers is recovering from a muscle strain in his upper arm and is unlikely to pitch this postseason.
5. What are the overall odds for both teams to win the World Series?
- The Rays have the fifth-best odds at +1200, while the Rangers have the fourth-worst odds at +2000.
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