Texas Rangers vs Washington Nationals

Texas is a tough park to pitch in and Washington sends rookie Mitchell Parker to the mound. The Nationals end a seven-game road trip with the offense scoring just two runs over the last two contests. The offense is 21st in runs scored, 18th in on-base percentage, and 21st in slugging. The bullpen is 14th in ERA and 25th in WHIP. Washington is 43-28 UNDER the total as a road dog of +150 or more. The Texas offense is 12th in on-base percentage and ninth in slugging, while the pen is 11th in WHIP. They play their ninth consecutive home game and starter Nathan Eovaldi (3.00 ERA) has allowed just four runs in three starts at home (17+ innings). The Rangers are 18-5 after allowing two runs or fewer in two straight, plus 32-14 UNDER the total after a loss to an opponent as home chalk of -200 or higher. Play Texas + UNDER the total. 

Washington is quietly on a 7-4 run cashing as underdogs of +205, +155, +155, +110, +125, +120, and +130. They come off a four-game sweep at Miami scoring 33 runs. MacKenzie Gore (3.12 ERA) has been very good (31 Ks in 26 innings) allowing 3 runs or less in all five starts, and so has the bullpen (3.68 ERA). Washington is on a 10-6 run on the road, as well as 46-50 as a road underdog. Texas is on a 4-5 slide, including an 8-4 loss at home to the Reds two games ago as a home favorite. They've also lost four of the six appearances (5 starts) made by Jon Gray. Over the last four seasons, his ERAs were 6.69, 4.59, 3.96, and 4.12. Texas is just 56-62 at home after playing two or more straight home games. Play Washington. 

Texas is playing its 17th consecutive game with no days off. They're looking tired losing seven of 10 - all the losses as a favorite - and play their sixth straight road contest. They're on a 19-40 run in July games, as well as 35-61 in the second half of the season. Dane Dunning takes the mound with his teams 4-15 when he starts on the road, plus 2-13 away from home when he faces a losing team. The Rangers are also 3-12 in interleague road games against a lefty starter. Washington is on a 7-7 run winning as underdogs of +157, +185, +210, +235, +175, +225, and +180. That included an 8-3 win over Texas yesterday. Washington plays its seventh consecutive home game and is 16-17 as an underdog of +175 to +250. Play Washington.

The Texas Rangers made many off-season moves and are paying dividends. The Rangers are now trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by just four games for the best record in the AL. The Rangers, however, are not playing well at all right now. Texas is a woeful 5-9 in their last 14 games. The offense has scored three or fewer runs in six of those losses. Washington has lost five-straight games, including the series opener last night. Jake Irvin gets the ball for Washington. Irvin, after six consecutive starts where the opponent plated five runs or more, has seen the last two combine for seven. A sluggish Texas offense vs. a young pitcher growing confidence puts us on Washington in this one.