The Philadelphia Phillies will take on the Texas Rangers in the first game of a three-game series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, starting at 8:05 p.m. ET. This matchup marks their first meeting this season, although the Phillies swept the Rangers in three games last year.
The Phillies recently played against the Baltimore Orioles, winning two out of three games before dropping the finale 5-1 on Wednesday. Despite the loss, shortstop Trea Turner stood out with a 3-for-4 performance, contributing an RBI. Overall, the Phillies have gone 5-3 in their last eight games and sit 2.5 games ahead in the NL East standings.
In contrast, the Rangers are attempting to rebound after taking two of three from the struggling New York Yankees. Their recent performance has seen their offense struggle, especially from designated hitter Adolis Garcia, who has a .204 batting average with 16 strikeouts in the past 15 days. Other key players like Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are also not performing up to standard, but the Rangers remain in contention just 4.5 games back in the AL West.
Tonight’s starters are left-hander Cristopher Sanchez for the Phillies, boasting a 10-3 record and a 2.40 ERA, and right-hander Merrill Kelly for the Rangers, who holds a 9-6 record with a 3.22 ERA. Sanchez is coming off a strong outing where he pitched eight scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers. He also has favorable home/road splits, showing consistent performance both at home and on the road. Kelly has displayed solid form as well, with a decent record against the Phillies in the past.
Current odds from BetMGM Sportsbook show the Phillies as slight favorites at -130, with the Rangers at +110. Experts predict a close game, leaning towards a 4-3 victory for the Phillies, mainly due to Sanchez’s impressive recent form. Additionally, there’s an interesting prop bet on Trea Turner scoring over 0.5 runs, given his strong history against Kelly.
As temperatures are expected to reach 99 degrees with a mild breeze, this game promises to be an exciting one.
Overall, both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. With the Phillies pressing for further division lead and the Rangers eager to bounce back, this game is set to be a thrilling contest.