Rangers vs Tigers Picks and Predictions: Detroit Continues Hot Streak With Sweep of Rangers

The Tigers are red-hot to start the second half... while the Rangers have been laughably bad. We're not planning to fade Detroit today either as they go for a four-game sweep of Texas — check out our MLB picks and predictions to see why.

Josh Inglis - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Josh Inglis • Betting Analyst
Jul 22, 2021 • 08:38 ET • 4 min read
Akil Baddoo Detroit Tigers MLB
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers will wrap up a four-game series Thursday afternoon. The home Tigers have taken the first three games from the Rangers heading into the finale.

Detroit has come out hot in the second half, going 6-0 SU, while the Rangers have been a hot mess going 0-6 SU — and getting outscored 47-5 in the process.

The Tigers currently are installed as -133 MLB betting favorites with the total at 9.5.

Here are our free picks and predictions for Rangers vs. Tigers on Thursday, July 22 (1:10 p.m. ET).

Rangers vs Tigers game info

Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, IL
Date: Thursday, July 22, 2021
Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
TV: Bally Sports Detroit, Bally Sports Southwest

Rangers vs Tigers odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

Compare MLB odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

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MLB sharp money and line movement report

By Patrick Everson

Detroit opened as a -125 favorite Wednesday night at PointsBet USA, initially backed up a bit to -120, then moved out to -145, where the moneyline stands at 12:15 p.m. ET today. "Seventy-six percent of bets and 81 percent of cash on the Tigers," PointsBet's Wyatt Yearout said. The total opened at 9.5 flat (-110), fell to 9 (Over -120) and is now 9.5 (Under -125), with 58 percent of bets/77 percent of money on the Under.

Check out the full line movement for this game

Rangers vs Tigers betting preview

Starting pitchers

Mike Foltynewicz (2-9, 5.91 ERA): The Rangers’ right-hander has nine losses on the season, which is tied for the third-most in the AL. He’s made 19 starts this year and the Rangers are 6-13 SU in those games. He is coming off a real clunker just four days ago where he gave up 10 — count them 10 — earned runs on four homers in 1 2-3 innings. Home runs have been an issue for the former first-rounder as Foltynewicz has surrendered 17 bombs in his last 46 innings.

Tyler Alexander (1-1, 1.40 ERA): The 27-year-old lefty has made just three starts this year and the Tigers will likely be using their bullpen in the middle innings as Alexander went just 48 pitches on July 17 and gave up just two runs on four hits over 3 2-3 innings. Detroit would go on to win that game 5-4 versus the Twins.

Weather

Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.

Key injuries

Rangers: Matt Bush RP (Out), Willie Calhoun OF (Out).
Tigers: Niko Goodrum 3B (Out), Isaac Paredes 3B (Questionable).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Rangers are 0-9 SU in their last nine games after losing the first three games of a series. Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Tigers.

Moneyline pick

Any bet on the Rangers is risky business these days. Texas came out of the break and dropped three straight games to the Blue Jays, where it was outscored 25-2 and managed just 12 hits. The Rangers followed up that sweeping by losing 14-0 in the opener of the Detroit series and then plated just a single run in the second match before exploding for a pair of runs yesterday.

So if you’re keeping track, that is just five runs over their six games to start the second half. They are slashing just .142/.182/.227 for a -1.1 WAR and a wRC+ of 11 — yikes.

Things aren’t getting any prettier on the mound either for the visitors as Mike Foltynewicz will get the ball. The righty is coming off a game where he allowed four home runs and 10 earned runs. No pitcher in baseball has surrendered more home runs than the Rangers’ starter, as his 28 long balls allowed is eight more than the next worst pitcher. Detroit isn’t known as a hard-hitting team but Foltynewicz is as generous as they come.

Since the start of the second half, the Tigers have surprised even themselves with an opening sweep of the Twins and dominating the first three games of this series versus the Rangers. Detroit is slashing .321/.368/.484 out of the gates as that average is the third-best in baseball in the second half. 

The Tigers will be using a bullpen day, which might scare some but the Detroit bullpen has held its own of late with an 8-4 record and five saves over the last 30 days. It ranks fifth in WAR over that stretch and won the last start that Alexander had last Saturday.

Getting the team in better form and having an advantage in the pitching match-up has us no-doubting the home side on Thursday afternoon.

PREDICTION: Detroit (-133)

Over/Under pick

It’s tough to take an Under with a team that has allowed double-digit runs in three of their last six games... but here we are.

Foltynewicz was pitching serviceably before getting rocked for 10 runs against Toronto and should be able to navigate a weak Detroit lineup that hits the sixth-fewest home runs at home and has a Bottom-10 offense when playing at Comerica Park.

The Texas lineup has been beyond laughable in the second half and has a 0.15 BB/K ratio as it is striking out at a 27-percent clip. Even when the Rangers do get some wood on the ball, they are generating a ton of soft and medium contact as their 27 percent hard-hit rate is the worst mark in baseball in the second half.

Afternoon games also add a wrinkle to totals as teams use the matinees to give veteran players some rest, which means we will likely see some bench players starting from both clubs.

The weather could also help the Under as a slight breeze should be blowing in from center field and low humidity could help out a home run pitcher like Foltynewcz.

PREDICTION: Under 9.5 (-120)

Rangers vs Tigers betting card

  • Detroit ML (-133)
  • Under 9.5 (-120)

Picks made on 7/22/2021 at 5:02 a.m. ET

MLB parlays

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Josh Inglis - Covers
Betting Analyst

Josh Inglis is a rising star in the sports betting content space, specializing in MLB, NHL, and NFL markets. Since joining Covers in 2018, Josh has focused his betting expertise on player props and derivative markets, finding them easier for beating the closing line compared to sides and totals. His engaging analysis and content have been showcased on major networks such as TSN and NBC. Josh is a prolific bettor, tracking over 2,500 bets annually and he consistently shares his results through monthly transparency reports. At Covers, he is renowned for his MLB release shows and NHL Puck Props, which are integral parts of the site's live content lineup.

Before his tenure at Covers, Josh spent a decade teaching while pursuing sports media on the side. He has also contributed to live global senior-level broadcasts for the WBSC.

Josh advocates for sports bettors to bet early, emphasizing the importance of securing better numbers by beating the public to the market. He also advises having multiple sportsbook accounts to ensure access to the best possible odds. His preferred sportsbook is bet365, which he favors for its extensive range of player prop markets and live betting options.

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