MLB Predictions, 9/2/2020 Rangers vs. Astros – Allard vs. Javier

Rangers vs. Astros 9/2 Prediction

After the Rangers took down the Astros in extra innings last night, the two teams from Texas will square off again tonight in Houston at 8:10 p.m. ET. Will tonight’s affair turn into another high-scoring game for bettors?

Game Snapshot

Who: Rangers (13-21) at Astros (19-15)

When: 8:10 p.m. ET, Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston

Odds: Rangers (+175) at Astros (-210); O/U 9

Public Betting: Check out our MLB Public Betting Chart Page

Texas Rangers DFS Spin

Elvis Andrus slugged a game-tying homer in the ninth inning on Tuesday to propel the Rangers to an eventual extra-inning victory over the Astros. Andrus launched a solo shot to left field off Astros closer Ryan Pressly, erasing the Rangers' one-run deficit in the ninth inning. It was his first long ball of the year and lone hit in four at-bats. The 32-year-old shortstop has been mired in a season-long slump at the plate, hitting .188/.244/.287 across 86 plate appearances.

Houston Astros DFS Spin

Michael Brantley went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBI on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough to propel the Astros past the Rangers in an extra-inning affair. Brantley strode to the plate with the Astros trailing by a pair of runs and two outs in the seventh inning and unloaded on an 80-mph slider from Rangers reliever Nick Goody, lifting a go-ahead, three-run homer off the right-field foul pole. The Astros bullpen failed to hang onto the lead, which enabled Brantley to pick up an additional RBI with a base hit to center field off Rafael Montero in the 10th inning. The 33-year-old veteran slugger has dealt with some injuries this season, but continues to be one of the most consistently undervalued fantasy contributors in the game. He’s hitting .299/.379/.494 with 16 runs scored, two home runs, 13 RBI and one stolen base across 87 plate appearances.

Rangers vs. Astros Betting Prediction

Texas starter Kolby Allard allowed just two runs and one hit over 5 1/3 innings in his last start, a loss to the A’s last Wednesday. That said, in his prior start, he got just two outs and gave up four runs to the Mariners before being pulled for a reliever. Even though Allard is coming off a nice start, I’m willing to bet that he doesn’t have as much success versus Houston’s lineup as he did versus a powerful, but strikeout-prone Oakland offense.

Meanwhile, Cristian Javier allowed three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings in a win over the Angels and is now 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He’ll face a Texas offense that has had its struggles but appears to be swinging the bats better of late, including last night when they scored six runs in a 6-5 extra-innings victory.

The over is now 6-1 in the Rangers’ last seven road games and a perfect 5-0 in their last five road contests when they’re an underdog. On the other side, the over has cashed in five of the Astros’ last six games overall and is 5-1 in their last six home contests when they’re the favorite.

WEDNESDAY MLB PREDICTION: RANGERS/ASTROS OVER 9