The New York Mets and Texas Rangers play the second game of a series on Tuesday. The Rangers are in must-win territory, tied with the Astros for the AL West, and with both teams under .500. First team to 82 wins the division? Maybe? You would think motivation alone would carry a team in this spot, but it didn’t help last night, as the Mets won the series opener. The Mets are, for whatever reason, still trying in the week’s final season. They also have their best pitcher on the mound tonight, and I just don’t like the Rangers to score much. I’ll take the Mets on the Money Line.
Nolan McLean has been a reliable ace for the Mets all season. He’s got a bad start here or there, but he just keeps going to work every five days, no matter how much the house is on fire around him. He deserves better. The Rangers have been thin on the offense all year, and they haven’t faced McLean before. You have to figure McLean balls out for his final start of the year. He will face Cody Bradford, who is closing out an injury-riddled season. Bradford has worked very limited innings, and turning things over to a vulnerable bullpen usually hasn’t been great. The Rangers have the motivation to win, but aside from that, there aren’t many angles here that look positive for Texas. I’ll take the Mets playing spoiler.
Mets vs Rangers prediction: Mets ML (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable to -130.
