<p>
The Rangers and Diamondbacks are both battling to stay close in their respective playoff races, heading into the first game of a quick two-game interleague series Tuesday night in Arlington. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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<p>
Tuesday's MLB betting odds opened Texas at around -165 over Arizona, with an over/under of 10 runs. Early betting action then dipped that line down to -160.
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<h2>
Diamondbacks vs. Rangers Set-Up<br />
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<p>
Arizona just lost two of three games at St. Louis over the weekend, losing Sunday's series rubber match 5-2. The Diamondbacks then had Monday off.
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<p>
Just before the All-Star break, Arizona swept three games from Colorado. So the D'Backs are 4-2 over their last six games.
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<p>
At 47-47 overall Arizona trails the division-leading Dodgers by 15 games in the NL West, but it's also only one game behind St. Louis and Philadelphia in the battle for the second National League wild-card spot.
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<p>
Texas, meanwhile, just split four games at home with Houston over the weekend, winning the first two but losing the last two, including a 12-4 decision Sunday. The Rangers then also had Monday off.
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<p>
Just before the All-Star break Texas lost two of three games to Minnesota; just before that the Rangers lost two of three to the Angels; and just before that they lost two of three to Tampa Bay. So Texas is only 4-8 over its last 12 games.
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<p>
At 50-44 overall the Rangers trail the first-place Astros by 8.5 games in the AL West, but they're also only three games behind Cleveland and Oakland in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot.
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<p>
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season; they split two games back in April in Phoenix.
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<h2>
Tuesday's Starting Arms<br />
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<p>
Lynn, by our stringent standards, is 12/19 on quality starts this season and working on a run of three in a row. Last Thursday he held Houston scoreless on six hits through seven innings, with 11 strikeouts, in a 5-0 Texas victory. And over his last three starts, he's allowed just two runs and 18 hits through 22 innings, with 26 whiffs against only three walks.
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<p>
Texas is 13-6 with Lynn this season, 5-0 over his last five starts.
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<p>
In his most recent start against the Diamondbacks, back in April of this season, Lynn allowed just one runs and four hits, with nine K's, through six frames of a 5-2 Rangers victory.
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<p>
Rookie lefty Young posted a 6.09 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP down at Triple-A Reno earlier this summer, but he got the call-up anyway, and he's been great so far at this level. In his ML debut three weeks ago he held San Francisco to one run through five innings. A few days later he tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Dodgers. And nine days ago he threw six innings of no-hit ball against Colorado in a 5-3 Arizona win.
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<p>
So through his first 13 1/3 ML innings, he's allowed one run and three hits, with nine strikeouts and two walks.
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<p>
The Diamondbacks are 2-0 in Young's starts.
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<p>
With this start being Young's first-ever appearance against Texas could give him an edge, at least for the first couple of times through the lineup.
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<h2>
Tuesday's Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
Arizona is batting .246/.315/.420 against right-handed pitching this season.
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<p>
Texas is batting .233/.307/.416 against left-handed pitching this season.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The D'Backs bullpen owns a 4.35 ERA this season and a 1.34 WHIP while allowing a .746 OPS.
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<p>
The Rangers pen owns a 4.71 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP while allowing an .800 OPS.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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<ul>
<li>
Totals are split 45-45 in Diamondbacks games this season.
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<li>
Unders are 47-45 in Rangers games this season.
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<li>
Unders are 26-24 in games played at Globe Life Park this season, even though Rangers home games are averaging 10.8 runs per, fifth-most in among all ML ballparks. Obviously, oddsmakers are posting some big numbers on Texas home games.
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<li>
Unders are a combined 14-7 when Lynn and Young start this season.
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<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1080263">Arizona at Texas MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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</ul>
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