Washington and Texas open their three-game series at Globe Life Field on Friday, June 24, 2022, so we’re taking a closer look at this interleague battle to get you the best Nationals vs. Rangers betting pick and odds. 

According to MyBookie Sportsbook, the Rangers are -150 home favorites for Friday’s opener. The Nationals are +130 moneyline underdogs, while the totals sit at 9.0 runs. Washington meets Texas for the first time since 2017, and the Nats are undefeated in their last four encounters. 

The Nationals lost nine of their last 11 games                                      

The Washington Nationals suffered a 7-0 defeat in six innings at the Baltimore Orioles last Wednesday. They split a two-game interleague set, and the Nationals fell to 25-47 on the season, holding the second-worst record in the National League. 

Washington is 7-14 with a 5.32 ERA in June. The Nats continue to struggle on the mound, and their bullpen has compiled a poor 4.69 ERA, 6.60 FIP, 5.13 BB/9, and 2.45 HR/9 through 40.1 frames of work in the last ten days. 

Paolo Espino will take another turn in the Nationals’ rotation Friday. He pitched five innings in a no-decision against the Philadelphia Phillies last Friday, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks. The 35-year-old righty is 0-1 with a 2.29 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in two starts and 20 relief appearances (35.1 innings) this season. 

The Rangers shoot for their third straight victory      

The Texas Rangers outlasted the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 this past Wednesday. They swept a two-game interleague series at home, improving to 33-35 on the season. The Rangers were four games behind the bottom wild card in the American League. 

Texas has been a hit-or-miss lately, going 4-4 in its previous eight contests and 8-8 in its last 16. The Rangers hold a 4.20 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in June, while their bullpen has amassed a 3.82 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 2.45 BB/9, and 1.09 HR/9 across 33 innings of work in the last ten days. 

Dane Dunning will take the hill Friday, hoping to finally get one into the win column. The 27-year-old righty has four losses and five no-decisions in his last nine starts. Dunning is 1-5 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 70/28 K/BB ratio in 14 starts (76 innings) in 2022. 

Trends:

Washington: 

  • 2-9 in the last 11 games overall 
  • 1-4 in the last five games on the road     

Texas:

  • 7-4 in the last 11 games overall     

Washington Nationals vs. Texas Rangers Pick 

It’s hard to trust the starting duo in this game, and I’m expecting the Rangers’ bullpen to make the difference down the stretch. Also, the Rangers are hitting .269/.324/.479 in the last seven days, while the Nationals have slashed only .230/.312/.367 in that span. 

The Nats’ pitching staff is a complete mess. Their offense hasn’t impressed either, and the Nationals desperately need more from Juan Soto, who has two hits in his last eight games. 

Pick: Take Texas Rangers at -150                                

The Total:

I lean toward the over because of the Nationals’ bullpen. Washington has allowed seven or more runs in seven of its last ten games. Paolo Espino should surrender a few runs in this one, and the Nats’ offense should be able to score a few off Dane Dunning and his relievers. 

The line is a tricky one at 9.0 runs. If it goes down to 8.5, I would take the over, hoping for another bad performance from the Nationals ‘pen. 

Pick: Go over 9.0 runs at -105