MLB picks: Rangers vs. Rays, Indians vs. White Sox

There are 14 games across both leagues on the MLB docket this Monday! We’ve narrowed things down to our two favorite wagers of the evening.  

First, we’ll preview a matchup between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Then it’s off to Busch Stadium for a look at a clash between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals.

Texas Rangers (3-6) at Tampa Bay Rays (4-5), 7:10 p.m. ET

Bettors should expect few runs to cross the plate at Tropicana Field on Monday night, especially early.

Rays staff ace Tyler Glasnow gets the nod against the Rangers, and he’s off to a tremendous start in 2021, allowing only one earned run over his first 12 innings of work. He’s struck out 15 batters while walking only two in that span.

The Texas roster has a grand total of just four at-bats against Glasnow, so their hitters will be at a significant disadvantage at the plate in this one. It’s not as though the Rangers are lighting the world on fire offensively anyway, as they’re 20th in the majors in runs per game this season (4.00).

Dane Dunning counters for Texas, and his team debut could not have gone much better last Tuesday as he allowed only one run on three hits in five innings of work against the Toronto Blue Jays. He fanned six batters and walked none.

Dunning has never faced Tampa, which should give him an edge over the Rays’ light-hitting lineup (13th by runs per game at 4.56).

MLB pick: Under 3.5 first five innings (+118)

---

Washington Nationals (1-5) at St. Louis Cardinals (5-4), 7:45 p.m. ET

Bettors should expect the Cardinals to show no mercy on the shorthanded Nationals on Monday night.

Erick Fedde, who was shelled for six runs while recording just five outs in his first start of 2021, has been pressed into starting duties for Washington once more. His career ERA is an inflated 5.29.

He’ll have to watch out for St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado, who’s begun the campaign 12-for-36 with two home runs. He’s 3-for-5 lifetime against Fedde with a homer, three RBI, and two walks.

Setup man John Gant will stretch out again for the Redbirds, but this is something he’s done effectively before. His first start of 2021 was encouraging, as he scattered four hits over four innings of work.

He faces a Nats lineup that’s dead-last in the majors by runs per game thus far (2.83).

MLB pick: Cardinals -148