Two of the top teams in MLB meet for a three-game interleague series as the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
The Rangers are tied for the best record in the American League while the Dodgers have the second-best record in the National League. The game will be broadcast on MLB Network at 8:05 p.m. ET.
The sport’s highest-paid pitcher faces one of its most effective ones in an anticipated pitchers' duel between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jacob deGrom, so I’m targeting the Under with my Dodgers vs. Rangers predictions and MLB picks for Friday, April 18.
Dodgers vs Rangers prediction
My Dodgers vs Rangers best bet: Under 8 (+100 at ProphetX)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are dealing with more concerns in the rotation than they anticipated going into the year, but one thing has remained constant: Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s dominance.
The second-year Dodger has a pristine 1.23 ERA through 22 innings, and the underlying metrics (2.32 xERA and 2.19 xFIP) support him remaining highly effective going forward.
The Japanese hurler is one of the most accurate dart throwers in the MLB, with a Location+ of 114 — tied with Logan Gilbert for fifth among starters.
The Texas Rangers haven’t gotten it going against right-handed pitching, ranking 25th in wRC+ (86) and 26th in wOBA (.284). It’s therefore no surprise that they’ve played to the Under (7-12 O/U).
In what’s been all too rare an occurrence in recent years, Jacob deGrom takes the mound for Texas. He’s battled through injuries to make his much-anticipated return to the mound, but so far it’s been a bumpy road (4.30 ERA and 6.20 FIP).
Those aren’t numbers we typically see from the historically dominant ace, and he’ll almost assuredly improve going forward. He still grades out impressively in Stuff+ (108), flummoxes batters by making them miss (84th percentile whiff rate and 91st percentile chase rate), and suppresses hard contact (87th percentile average exit velocity).
Behind these two notable starters are two effective bullpens. L.A. ranks fourth in xFIP (3.26) from its relievers, while Texas is right behind at fifth (3.33).
Texas has played in 10 home games and has gone Over in just one of them. L.A., meanwhile, is 1-3 O/U in Yamamoto’s four starts this season, and I’ll bet on another Under coming through on Friday night.
Dodgers vs Rangers same-game parlay (SGP)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto 5+ strikeouts
Joc Pederson 2+ total bases
Under 8
Yamamoto has been rolling in the strikeout department, averaging 8.0 across his last three starts. He has a 33.7% strikeout rate while ranking in the 85th percentile in whiff rate, and he’s fully stretched out after topping 100 pitches thrown in his last outing.
It might seem antithetical to this SGP to include a Joc Pederson Over, so allow me to explain.
One of the reasons Texas has struggled against RHP to begin the year is the unexpected futility of the righty-masher. After a two-year, $37 million contract in the offseason, Joc’s Rangers tenure is off to an ignominious start (-24 wRC+ on a .060/.161/.080 slash line).
That won’t last forever. Joc is still making some quality contact (68th percentile average exit velocity) and making good swing decisions (68th percentile chase rate), plus he has a 126 wRC+ and a .355 wOBA against right-handed pitchers in his career.
He has good results against Yamamoto’s two most frequently thrown pitches against lefties, the four-seamer (144 wRC+) and the splitter (102 wRC+). Unsurprisingly, he’s 4-for-6 against the Japanese hurler in his career, so I’ll buy low on his player props and round out this SGP.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Dodgers vs Rangers odds
Dodgers vs Rangers live odds
Dodgers vs Rangers opening odds
- Moneyline: Los Angeles -140 | Texas +120
- Run line: Los Angeles -1.5 (+120) | Texas +1.5 (-140)
- Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8
Dodgers vs Rangers trend
The Rangers are 1-9 O/U at Globe Life Field. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Rangers.
How to watch Dodgers vs Rangers and game info
| Location | Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX |
| Date | Friday, 4-18-2025 |
| First pitch | 8:05 p.m. ET |
| TV | SportsNet Los Angeles, CW33 |
| Dodgers starting pitcher | Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-1, 1.23 ERA) |
| Rangers starting pitcher | Jacob deGrom (0-0, 4.30 ERA) |
Dodgers vs Rangers latest injuries
Dodgers vs Rangers weather
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