The Texas Rangers are undefeated in the postseason heading into Wednesday's ALCS Game 3 against the Houston Astros, and we make our top Astros vs. Rangers predictions based on the best MLB odds.
Texas has a 2-0 lead in the ALCS over Houston after winning the first two games at Minute Maid Park by a combined 7-4. Per MLB's Sarah Langs, teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series have won those series 84% of the time (75-14), while teams that have won the first two games on the road in a best-of-seven have won 90% of the time (26-3).
DraftKings currently has the Rangers' odds at -450 to win this series.
Here is our best Astros vs. Rangers prediction for Game 3 of the ALCS (odds via our best MLB betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Astros vs. Rangers prediction: ALCS Game 3
The Rangers have been dominant during their current seven-game winning streak (all playoff wins), as their +23 run differential is tied with this year's Philadelphia Phillies squad for the sixth-best through the first seven games of a single postseason in MLB history. However, Houston can rely on the experience of reaching seven consecutive Championship Series to wake its offense up and dig it out of a 0-2 hole. And even though Rangers righty Max Scherzer is a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer, perhaps nothing can ruin Texas' momentum more than inserting a starting pitcher who last pitched over a month ago.
Scherzer has spent the last five weeks on the IL with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Even though he has gone 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA for Texas since being acquired from the New York Mets, Scherzer has battled several injuries this year, which raised speculation that his latest injury would be season-ending.
Scherzer threw 69 pitches in a simulated start a few days ago, but asking Scherzer to quiet an offense that posted a 122 wRC+, .805 OPS, 9.1% walk rate, and 18.5% strikeout rate from Aug. 1 to the end of the regular season is a tall task.
Opposing Scherzer is Cristian Javier, who has not allowed a run in his previous 11 innings. However, Javier has just a 26.1% ground ball rate (which ranks in the first percentile), and though he has gone 21 consecutive innings without allowing a home run, the Rangers hit an AL-best 143 home runs at home this season, 19 more than any other team.
Thus, we expect some regression from Javier, whose .443 xSLG this year was by far the worst of his career, while Texas slugged an MLB-best .495 at home. This is a three-star play, as Javier walked five batters in his lone postseason start this season against the Minnesota Twins, and Texas had the second-highest walk rate of any AL team.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook.
Visit our Google News page and click “Follow” (?) for the latest odds, picks and news!
Astros vs. Rangers best odds
| DraftKings | FanDuel | BetMGM | Caesars | bet365 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9.5 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Over (-110) | Over (+100) | Over (-110) | Over (-115) | Over (-110) |
FanDuel is the lone sportsbook that offers a total as high as 9.5 runs, as our four other best sports betting sites are all in unison with an O/U of 9.0. Three of those four (DraftKings, BetMGM, bet365) charge the standard -110 juice on either side of the total, and those are our go-to shops, as we are avoiding Caesars' slightly higher price of -115.
Astros vs. Rangers odds
Astros vs. Rangers odds analysis
None of the best sports betting apps have wavered off the original number in terms of the total, but there have been odds shifts at various shops. FanDuel dropped from -115 to back the Over of 9.5 down to +100, while bet365 opened at -120 for the Over of 9.0 and has since lowered to -110. Early wagers are 3/1 in favor of the Under, despite the Over cashing in the previous four games between these AL West rivals at Globe Life Field.
While our other four best sportsbooks all have Texas as -130 moneyline favorites, FanDuel is slightly lower with a price of -126. That price at FanDuel is down from an opening number of -132, while BetMGM raised its odds from Texas -125 to -130 from Monday night into Tuesday.
Houston has won each of its last eight games as road underdogs following a loss.
Astros vs. Rangers game info: ALCS Game 3
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 8:03 p.m. ET
- Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington TX
- How to watch: FS1
- Weather: 82 degrees, 0% PoP, wind 16 mph S
Astros-Rangers pick made 10/17/2023 at 6:41 a.m. ET.
Kentucky sports betting launched on Sept. 28 – so sign up with the best Kentucky sportsbook promos now! And check out our list of the best Kentucky sports betting apps!
21+ and present in KY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
MLB betting odds pages
| World Series Odds | MLB Hits Leader Odds | MLB RBI Leader Odds |
| World Series MVP Odds | MLB Wins Leader Odds | MLB Win Totals |
| MLB Rookie of the Year Odds | MLB Home Run Leader Odds | MLB Best Regular Season Record Odds |
| MLB MVP Odds | MLB Strikeout Leader Odds | MLB Home Run Derby Odds |
| MLB Cy Young Award Odds | MLB Stolen Base Leader Odds |
Here are our best MLB betting sites:
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
- BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
- bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
- BetRivers Promo Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetRivers Review
- FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
- DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
Related pages
- Best Sports Betting Sites | Best Sportsbook Promos (U.S. only)