Game 1 is in the books.
The Texas Rangers (1-0) are one win away from facing the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS. They won round one 4-0, racking up nine hits and drawing six walks. The bullpen successfully shut the door, and now they only need one more.
As for the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1), suiting up in their old Devil Rays garb was probably a bad idea, considering that iteration of the team never even made the playoffs. That uniform let them down again, and now they’re facing elimination. This team has been here before, but will experience be enough to survive?
It’s do-or-die, which is why the MLB playoffs are so fun. Will Rangers vs. Rays meet an early end?
Match Details
Fixture: Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays
Date and Time: Wednesday, October 4, 3:00 p.m. EST
Venue: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida
Rangers vs. Rays Betting Odds
| Team | Run Line | Total | Money Line |
| Rangers | +1.5 (-166) | Over 8.0 (-102) | +124 |
| Rays | -1.5 (+140) | Under 8.0 (-118) | -148 |
Starting Pitchers
Former Ray Nathan Eovaldi will be the Rangers starter for Game 2. He faced Tampa twice during the regular season, holding them to four runs across 12.1 innings. Eovaldi’s final ERA for the season was 3.63.
Zach Eflin will get the ball for the Rays today. In 18 home starts, he was 11-4 with a 4.30 ERA. Along with that, Tampa Bay won Eflin’s last six outings. There’s no better time for that streak to continue.
Rangers vs. Rays Prediction
No matter who comes out on top, this shouldn’t be a game with a lot of scoring. Nathan Eovaldi had no issues with the Rays when he faced them this season. Eovaldi also owns a 3.14 ERA in his playoff career (spanning 43.0 innings). Zach Eflin may not have as much postseason experience, but he’s been money at home for the Rays all season. This game finishes as another low-scoring one.
