Check out our top MLB no runs first innings odds, picks, and predictions for Tuesday: Angels vs. Rangers.
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This is a matchup of left-handers in Patrick Sandoval and rookie Cole Ragans. Sandoval has had what can only be described as a weird season. The numbers are excellent in all facets except for the walk rate. He truly seems to be becoming a second ace for this Angels’ team. However, with all of the team’s struggles, his wins have not been there, which has hidden some of the success. He faces the Rangers today, who has actually been above average against left-handers in 2022. They are either in wRC+ against lefties. However, their walk rate has been middle of the road, and I believe that this may allow Sandoval to overcome his own shortcomings.
For the Rangers, Cole Ragans gets the start. Ragans has been downright awful in his brief debut. He has a well below-average K-rate and an extremely elevated walk rate. Not to mention he is also allowing more homers than average, almost two per nine innings. He is facing an Angels lineup with two of the best hitters in baseball in the top 3. So why are we trusting him for our NRFI bets? Well, the answer is quite simple, the Angels have a wRC+ of 88 against lefties, good for sixth worst in baseball. This is strictly a gamble on platoon splits and that Ragans can hold off the Angels long enough to have a clean first inning. Maybe he will walk Trout and Ohtani to help the cause.