The Texas Rangers keep finding different ways to win. Whether it is by one run or a slugfest, the Rangers are now up two games to none heading back to Arlington. The bullpen held the lead yet again.
Can Baltimore find a way to get back in the series, or will Texas take total control on Tuesday night?
Game 3 delivers a matchup between Dean Kremer and Nathan Eovaldi. It would appear Texas has the upper hand, given what occurred on Sunday.
Let’s dive into my prediction and best bets for Game 3 of the ALDS between the Orioles and Rangers.
Orioles vs Rangers Game 3 Prediction
Orioles 4, Rangers 8
The Orioles got their offense going in Game 2. Now, that is the good news. Unfortunately, the bad news is Baltimore gave up 11 runs at home.
We saw that Texas could win different types of games on the road. They silenced the crowd, and Cody Bradford gave the Rangers three massive innings.
Game 3 headlines Eovaldi, a pitcher who easily shut down the Tampa Bay Rays in his first postseason start of 2023. Eovaldi allowed one earned run in 6.2 innings in the win. The veteran has been here before, and his experience is a big part of Game 3 as the scene shifts to Texas.
Baltimore watched Grayson Rodriguez implode in Game 2, and another young pitcher, Kremer, enters the spotlight for Game 3. Can the Orioles keep Texas from smashing and slashing the baseball?
When Kremer is ineffective, he gives up a lot of line drives. Texas excels in that category. Game 2 saw Texas only hit one home run in their 11-run barrage.
Look for a game where Texas tries and succeeds in taking early advantage of Baltimore’s mistakes once again.
Orioles vs Rangers Game 3 Best Bet
Rangers -1.5 Runs (+136) vs Orioles
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The Rangers stroll in at -142 on the Moneyline. Now, Baltimore did get a three-run home run off Jose LeClerc. It was a long ball few expected the closer to allow. However, the only thing that might have done was anger the closer and the Texas bullpen even more.
Baltimore must not let Texas get too far ahead. Game 1 showed the lead did not have to be too much. The Orioles did get a lead in Game 2 but did not break the game open early.
Texas did that, scoring nine times between the second and third innings. The Rangers show that little extra explosion while Baltimore has given up additional runs at the worst times.
The Baltimore Orioles showed they can score some runs. Baltimore flashed their pitching potential. Unfortunately, they face the ace of the Texas staff on Tuesday. Can they do the improbable?
Anything is possible. After all, this team fought back many times during the year and overtook the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Orioles will keep things close. However, the Rangers on the Runline (-1.5 runs) is the play for our MLB Play of the Day.
Orioles vs Rangers Game 3 Props
Nathan Eovaldi Records Win (+210) vs Orioles
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Units
A huge question mark remains with starting pitchers and winning in the postseason. Eovaldi did it once. Why can’t he do it again?
The 33-year-old rebounded when it counted in the AL Wild Card. Naturally, the bet carries risk as his Game Score had not exceeded 50 more than once in his last five outings.
However, all it takes is once. Eovaldi is one of those pitchers who can get in a groove. He reeled off seven straight wins in the middle of 2023. Before his injury, which cost him seven weeks, Eovaldi was 11-3 with a 2.69 ERA while adding more than 2.3 wins in win probability added by a pitcher.
Eovaldi must keep Baltimore a bit off balance early. The Orioles were starting to tee off on Texas pitching. A few more hard-hit line drives could spell trouble for the Rangers. Eovaldi knows this fact.
Let’s take the pitcher with the experience, as he looks poised to go 2-0 on Tuesday night.
Adolis Garcia Anytime Home Run (+235) vs Orioles
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 Units
It feels like we needed to go to this well. Adolis Garcia hit 39 home runs in 2023. Of all those long balls, Garcia hit 25 deep in the heart of Texas. Also, the right fielder went 2-for-5 on Sunday and hit several hard-hit balls. It would not take much to expect one of those to go over the fence.
Garcia is facing a pitcher in Kremer, who has allowed 27 home runs in 173+ innings.
Kremer makes too many mistakes. The feeling is he makes once to the Texas slugger on Tuesday night.
MLB Wild Card Props