The Texas Rangers will host the New York Yankees in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday. The Yankees headed into Monday night’s game against Texas with a 22-18 record, tied for third in the American League East, but only two games behind the Boston Red Sox. The Rangers are last in the AL West with an 18-24 record.
New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 – 08:05 PM EDT at Globe Life Field
Scouting the Yankees
These two teams haven’t played each other since 2019 when they split six head-to-head matchups. Monday’s game was still underway at the time of the preview, which is for Tuesday’s game.
After getting off to a slow start, the Yankees have turned things around with 11 wins in their last 15 games. New York did, however, see a two-game winning streak end on Sunday with a 10-6 loss to Tampa Bay. Gary Sanchez, Clint Frazier, and Aaron Judge all homered for the Yankees in the loss.
The Yankees are 21st in MLB, averaging 4.0 runs per game and 25th with a .225 team batting average. The pinstripes are third in MLB with 55 home runs hit on the season. Aaron Judge is first on the team with 12 home runs and tied for the club lead with 24 RBI. Judge has been red-hot lately and went 6 for 10 with five home runs.
Jameson Taillon is scheduled to start for the Yankees on Tuesday. Taillon is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Taillon allowed four earned runs in 4 ⅔ innings in his last start on May 13, which resulted in a 9-1 loss to Tampa Bay.
Scouting the Rangers
The Texas Rangers were a .500 team a week ago, but things have changed quickly. Texas headed into Monday on a six-game losing streak after being swept in two games by the San Francisco Giants and four games by the Houston Astros.
The Texas Rangers are tied for ninth with 51 home runs. Isiah Kiner-Falefa leads the team with a 2.6 Wins Above Replacement and a .293 batting average and has five home runs and 17 RBI. Adolis Garcia leads the team with 10 home runs and 27 RBI, and Nate Lowe is second with 26 RBI and is tied with Joey Gallo and Nick Solak for second on them with seven home runs. The Rangers are 17th, scoring 4.2 runs per game and 11th with a .241 batting average.
Texas is scheduled to start Mike Foltynewicz on Tuesday. The 29-year old veteran is 1-3 with a 4.60 ERA, and 1.36 WHIP in eight starts this year. Foltynewicz allowed three earned runs in five innings against the Houston Astros last Thursday. The Rangers bullpen is 19th with a 4.14 ERA. Veteran closer Ian Kennedy is having an All-Star season, with 10 saves, 2.25 ERA, and 1.00 WHIP in 16 innings pitched this season.
The Pick for Tonight
The Yankees come at a high price tag here, seeing that they will send Jameson Tailon to the mound, who is 0-3 with a 9.49 ERA in road games this season. The Rangers are struggling right now, but they won't continue to lose forever, and Mike Foltynewicz has given them a chance to win in most of his starts this season. Folynewicz has held opponents to three earned runs or less in five of his last six starts. I'm backing the Rangers at a nice underdog price Tuesday.
MLB Bet: Rangers Moneyline (+150) at BetOnline
