Yankees vs. Rangers: Predictions, Odds, Best Bets, Starting Lineups (4/29/23)

The Rangers continue to look formidable this season, but they’re 2-3 in starts made by Nathan Eovaldi. Is this the day Eovaldi finds his groove? The Yankees are looking to move further away from .500 and have rookie Jhony Brito on the mound in Texas. The Rangers are slight favorites at -135 on the moneyline.

Let’s make predictions for Saturday’s game and break down why the

Yankees vs. Rangers Prediction

Eovaldi might feel like an easy matchup for the Yankees after they face Jacob deGrom on Friday night, but there are no easy matchups with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out of the lineup.

This is a New York offense with a very limited ceiling as long as Judge is indeed out, and their collection of healthy outfielders is a low-end group without much to offer at the plate. I’m skeptical that the offense will have enough to keep up with the Rangers, particularly with Brito starting for the Yankees.

The Rangers have plenty of power packed in their lineup and are positioned to make Brito uncomfortable early on – especially after he hit serious bumps in two starts against the Twins. There’s enough value in Rangers -135 to make that the pick here.

Yankees vs. Rangers Prediction: Rangers -135

Yankees vs. Rangers Odds

The Rangers enter as slight home favorites at -135 on the moneyline. The over/under is 8.5 runs.

Texas might not be the better overall team here, but Brito’s unsteadiness since he joined the Yankees’ rotation is driving this line. The Rangers have a formidable lineup that can punish a young starter like Brito. Plus, uncertainty surrounding Aaron Judge is a concern.

Yankees vs. Rangers Key Matchups

Here are the key matchups that could decide Yankees vs. Rangers.

Yankees Outfielders vs. Nathan Eovaldi

The Yankees say Judge is expected to miss a couple of days with a hip injury, so he’s expected to sit out this matchup on Saturday. Considering Giancarlo Stanton is out and Harrison Bader isn’t ready to return, that means New York’s outfield will be remarkably thin for this one.

Oswaldo Cabrera, Franchy Cordero, and either Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Aaron Hicks is a bottom-tier outfield, and the Yankees don’t look like they have enough throughout the rest of the lineup to make up for it. Few players dramatically impact day-to-day expectations like Judge does, and Eovaldi will need to take advantage of his likely absence by making quick work of the Yankees’ outfield.

Rangers Lineup vs. Jhony Brito in the early innings

It’s been a rough go for Brito lately. The rookie hasn’t lasted past the third inning in two of his last three starts, including a total blowout up against the Twins. Teams have gotten to him early in his worst starts, knocking him out of the game quickly. Whether the Rangers can do that will be critical.

The Yankees’ bullpen has statistically been the best in baseball this season, so letting Brito post a strong five innings isn’t a recipe for a Rangers win. Texas has a dangerous lineup with plenty of power and will have to make Brito uncomfortable in the early innings. A battle of the bullpens leaves the advantage with the Yankees.

Yankees vs. Rangers Starting Lineups

Yankees Starting Lineup

SS Anthony Volpe R
1B Anthony Rizzo L
2B DJ LeMahieu R
DH Gleyber Torres R
DH Willie Calhoun L
RF Franchy Cordero L
C Jose Trevino R
LF Oswaldo Cabrera S
CF Isiah Kiner-Falefa R

Rangers Starting Lineup

2B Marcus Semien R
LF Travis Jankowski L
1B Nathaniel Lowe L
CF Adolis Garcia R
3B Josh Jung R
C Jonah Heim S
RF Robbie Grossman S
SS Josh Smith L
CF Leody Taveras S