Arizona Diamondbacks vs Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions September 11th 2024

Diamondbacks look to sweep two-game series vs. Rangers

At 3:40 PM ET, the Rangers and Diamondbacks square off in an interleague matchup. This one is being played at Chase Field in Phoenix, and the Diamondbacks are favored on the money line (-145). The Rangers have a money line odds of +123, and the over/under line is at 8.5 runs.

Arizona will be looking to extend their two-game winning streak with a win over the Rangers, who are 3rd in the AL West with a record of 70-75. The Diamondbacks are 81-64 and will send Merrill Kelly to the mound vs. a Rangers club that has Cody Bradford starting.

Texas vs. Arizona Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Diamondbacks
• Where: Chase Field Phoenix
• Date: Wednesday, September 11th
• Betting Odds ARI -145 | TEX +123 O/U 8.5

The Rangers Can Win If…

Texas is sending left-hander Cody Bradford to the mound today vs. the Diamondbacks. He has made 10 starts this season and has a record of 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA. Bradford’s WHIP for the season is currently .87. In his 10 starts, he has turned in seven quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Bradford picked up the win, going six innings and giving up one earned run on two hits. He has only allowed one homer in his last three outings. Bradford has an ERA of 8.6 on the road compared to 2.88 at home.

Corey Seager has been one of the league’s top power hitters this season, as his 30 homers are 1st on the team and 11th in the MLB. Seager is also hitting .278, and his 74 RBIs are the best on the Rangers. Adolis Garcia is also near the top of the league in homers, with 22, but he has struggled with a batting average of just .216.

Josh Jung and Wyatt Langford have been swinging the bat well for the Rangers, with both players going 12/34 in their last nine games. Both players have also hit two homers during this stretch. Josh Smith has a five-game hitting streak coming into the game.

• The Rangers are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rangers are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Texas has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Rangers have an average of 3.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rangers are 5-5
• Looking back across the Rangers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Texas has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rangers have averaged 3.8 runs per game on offense

The Diamondbacks Can Win If…

Right-hander Merrill Kelly is getting the start for the Diamondbacks today as he faces the Rangers at home. He has made nine starts this year and has a record of 4-0 with an ERA of 4.08. Kelly’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.23. Out of his nine starts, Kelly has turned in four quality starts and is coming off an outing in which he went seven innings, giving up two earned runs, and finished with eight strikeouts. In that outing, he didn’t give up a homer. Looking back, Kelly has given up a homer in three straight outings.

Arizona has been the best offensive team in the league this season, averaging 5.4 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.6 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .262 (2nd) and have the league’s best on-base percentage and OPS. The Diamondbacks have been one of the league’s best home run-hitting teams and are also near the top of the league in terms of isolated power.

Ketel Marte has been one of the league’s top power threats this season, as his 30 homers are 11th best in the league and the most on the Diamondbacks. Eugenio Suarez is right behind him with 26 homers and has been hot of late, going 15/37 with five homers over his last 10 games. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has also been a big run producer for the team, as his 70 RBIs are 4th in the league.

• The Diamondbacks are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Diamondbacks are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Arizona has an over/under record of 8-2 in their last ten games.
• The Diamondbacks have an average of 5.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Diamondbacks are 7-3
• Looking back across the Diamondbacks last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Arizona has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Diamondbacks have averaged 6.6 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Our lean for an over/under pick would be to take the over, as we have this as the 6th highest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Diamondbacks to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, we have Merrill Kelly as our 3rd worst strikeout pitcher compared to Cody Bradford (19th).

The Arizona Diamondbacks are riding high after a 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers, thanks to Christian Walker’s resurgence at the plate. Arizona will look to complete the two-game sweep on Wednesday as both teams vie for critical postseason positioning.

Christian Walker’s Power Comeback

After being sidelined for over a month due to an oblique injury, Christian Walker has struggled to regain his form. In his first four games back since September 3, Walker managed just 3-for-15, but his bat came alive during Tuesday’s win. The first baseman hit two home runs—his first since returning from injury—going opposite field for both shots.

“My timing has been feeling just a tick off,” Walker admitted. “You have to keep it simple and try to hit the ball hard. Luckily, they were on my side.”

His solo home run in the first inning, followed by a two-run shot in the third, brought his season total to 25 homers in just 113 games. Walker’s previous homer was back on July 24, before his injury against the Washington Nationals on July 29.

With Walker back in form, the Diamondbacks’ offense looks much more dangerous as they chase a playoff berth. “It was good to help the team win. This team has been winning a lot,” said Walker. “It’s fun to be part of this lineup.”

Diamondbacks’ Wild-Card Race Intensifies

Arizona (81-64) is in the thick of the National League wild-card race, sitting just a half-game behind the San Diego Padres for the top spot. The Diamondbacks are holding off the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, with a two-game cushion over both teams.

A win on Wednesday would solidify Arizona’s standing and bring them one step closer to securing a postseason berth. Joc Pederson, who also homered in the first inning of Tuesday’s win, will be key in maintaining Arizona’s offensive momentum.

Rangers Cling to Postseason Hopes

The Texas Rangers (70-75) are fighting to keep their slim postseason hopes alive in the American League wild-card race. They trail five teams with just 17 games left to play, and they’ll need a strong finish to have any chance of overtaking the Minnesota Twins, who currently hold the final wild-card spot.

Despite the uphill battle, the Rangers aren’t giving up. Texas is looking forward to a major boost to its pitching staff this week. Top pitching prospect Kumar Rocker, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft, will make his much-anticipated debut on Thursday. Meanwhile, Jacob deGrom (coming off Tommy John surgery) is set to pitch on Friday, and three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will take the mound on Saturday.

Rangers General Manager Chris Young expressed excitement about the upcoming week: “Any time you get to debut one of your top prospects and you get two of the best pitchers in the game back, it’s a fun week.”

Pitching Matchup: Kelly vs. Bradford

The series finale will feature a matchup between right-hander Merrill Kelly for the Diamondbacks and left-hander Cody Bradford for the Rangers.

Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.08 ERA) will take the mound for Arizona, looking to build on his strong performance from his last outing. Kelly pitched seven solid innings against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, allowing just two runs. However, he struggled in his previous three starts, surrendering 16 runs (14 earned) over 16 1/3 innings.

Kelly has had past success against the Rangers, notably earning Arizona’s only win in last season’s World Series. In Game 2, Kelly allowed just one run on three hits over seven innings. His regular-season history against Texas is also solid—he won his lone start against the Rangers in 2020, giving up one run over 7 2/3 innings.

Cody Bradford (5-2, 3.05 ERA) will counter for Texas. The 26-year-old lefty has been a steady performer for the Rangers, giving up just five earned runs across his five victories this season. In his last start, Bradford allowed one run and two hits over six innings in a win against the Los Angeles Angels.

Bradford’s postseason experience, although limited, is notable—he pitched two scoreless innings over two appearances in last year’s World Series. However, he has never faced the Diamondbacks in regular-season play.

Key Players to Watch

• Christian Walker: After rediscovering his power stroke with two home runs on Tuesday, Walker will be a key offensive weapon for Arizona. His ability to go to the opposite field makes him a tough out for any pitcher.
• Joc Pederson: His first-inning homer against Texas set the tone for Arizona’s victory, and the veteran outfielder will look to provide more firepower in the series finale.
• Wyatt Langford: The rookie outfielder had two hits and two stolen bases in Tuesday’s game, continuing to show promise in his debut season for the Rangers.
• Marcus Semien: The Rangers’ second baseman has struggled against Kelly, going just 1-for-6 with three strikeouts in previous matchups. His ability to turn things around could be critical for Texas.

Conclusion: High Stakes for Both Teams

As the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers prepare for the final game of their two-game series, the stakes are high for both teams. Arizona is fighting to secure a National League wild-card spot, while Texas is holding on to slim postseason hopes in the American League.

With Christian Walker regaining his power and Merrill Kelly on the mound, the Diamondbacks have a good chance of sweeping the series and gaining ground in the playoff race. On the other side, Texas will rely on Cody Bradford’s steady pitching and hope for timely hitting to stay in the hunt for the final wild-card spot.

The game promises to be a pivotal one, with both teams facing critical junctures in their respective playoff quests.

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