Oddsmakers are calling Wednesday’s July 29th Diamondbacks at Rangers betting showdown a close one as Arizona is listed at -102 and Texas -118. The D’Backs got this series off on the right track with a 4-1 win on Tuesday as -104 favorites. Texas has now dropped three straight.
The betting total for this game is just 8, due in part to Madison Bumgarner getting the start for Arizona. The Diamondbacks’ prized offseason acquisition did lose his opener though. The Rangers counter with Lance Lynn who was very sharp last week vs. Colorado.
Public Likes Arizona Wednesday
The line of Arizona -102 seems a bit weird heading into July 29th Diamondbacks at Rangers betting. The D’Backs did lose 3 of 4 to the Padres to open the season but completely shut down the Texas offense in a 4-1 win on Tuesday. The Rangers have now scored 6 runs total in four games this year.
The Diamondbacks offense isn’t exactly going to wow anybody either. Counting Tuesday’s win, Arizona has now scored 13 runs in five games in 2020. Wednesday’s matchup features two of the three lowest scoring teams in MLB which is another reason the O/U is down to 8.
Bumgarner did take the loss in his Arizona debut but he pitched five shutout innings before giving up a 3-run double to Eric Hosmer on his 100th pitch of the game. Bumgarner has had a losing over .500 record in each of the last three years, but his ERA has still stayed below 4.00 in each of his 11 seasons.
Can Texas Find Any Offense vs. Bumgarner?
The Rangers dreadful offensive start to the season continued Tuesday when they didn’t get their first hit until the 7th inning. A Roughed Odor home run broke up the no-hitter and the shutout but Texas still finished with just 3 hits total.
Texas now ranks last in MLB in runs scored (6), batting average (.156), OBP (.249), SLG (.262), and are second-to-last to Arizona in HRs. Those stats do not bode well heading into a matchup with Bumgarner, who only three Texas batters have faced.
Texas may not need a ton of offense if starter Lance Lynn pitches like he did in the season opener. Lynn shut down the potent Colorado offense for two hits over 6.0 IP while striking out 9 Rockies batters. Lynn posted his lowest ERA in three seasons in 2019, going 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA. That being said, Arizona’s Jon Jay has had some success against Lynn (5-8, .625), as has David Peralta (6-14, .429 1HR) and Ketel Marte (4-11, .364 2 2B).
July 29th Diamondbacks at Rangers Betting Pick
While this game may have trp written all over it with the Rangers actually being a -118 favorite, the ‘under’ should be a safe wager. It’s hard to envision either offense getting anything going early (5-inning O/U 4.5) or late for that matter.
Pick: “Under” 8
Pick: 5 innings “Under” 4.5
