Yankees vs. Rangers Wednesday Pick
After splitting the first two games of the series, the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers will play the rubber match of their series on Wednesday night. Will the Bronx Bombers prevail tonight in order to pick up a series victory?
Game Snapshot & Odds
965 New York Yankees (-195) at 966 Texas Rangers (+160); 10 runs
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
7:05 p.m. ET, Globe Life Park in Arlington
TV: NYY (YES); TEX (FSSW)
Compare odds and from multiple different online sportsbooks and shop for the best lines at our new Baseball Odds & Betting Page.
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Yankees as a -195 favorite. As of this writing, 72% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Yankees to beat the Rangers on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Yankees’ Sabathia takes loss against Royals in last start
CC Sabathia yielded four runs in five innings Friday in a loss to the Royals. Sabathia wasn’t as sharp as usual, allowing four hits (including a solo homer to Salvador Perez) and four walks. Keep in mind that he came into Friday’s outing with just five walks in 36 1/3 innings on the year. Perhaps the long layoff was a factor? Either way, Sabathia has taken a step back over his last two outings. He’ll try to get back on the winning track next time against the Rangers on the road.
Rangers’ Fister shuts out White Sox in last outing
Doug Fister scattered six hits over seven shutout frames while taking a no-decision in Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the White Sox. Fister and opposite starter James Shields squared off in a surprise pitching duel in this one, with Fister only failing to secure a win due to his bullpen’s ineptitude. The veteran right-hander struck out four without walking a batter on the evening, then called it a day having thrown 97 pitches (65 for strikes).
Outside of two rough starts against the Red Sox and A’s earlier this season, Fister has not allowed more than three runs in an outing. He’s also been giving the Rangers tremendous length of late, having now pitched into the seventh inning in each of his last four starts. For fantasy purposes, Fister does have some sneaky value as a streaming play depending on the matchup, but it would be wise to avoid him next time out, when he’ll be playing host to the Yankees. Fister will put a 3.43 ERA and 1.37 WHIP on the line in that contest.
MLB Betting Trends
New York
The Yankees are winless in Sabathia’s last four starts versus the Rangers. The over is also 8-1-1 in Sabathia’s last 10 starts versus the Rangers and 4-1 in his last five road outings against Texas.
Texas
The over is also 5-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams in Arlington and has cashed in five of the last six meetings overall.
Prediction:
Fister is coming off an impressive outing versus the White Sox but he’ll find life more difficult against the Yankees tonight. After losing last night, the Bombers should come out with some desperation and they’ve been profitable with Sabathia on the hill, winning 38 of his last 56 starts versus the American League West. The Yankees are expensive, however, so I’ll be laying the 1.5 on the runline.