The Houston Astros (77-65) and the Texas Rangers (73-69) play the middle contest of a 3-game series Saturday at Daikin Park in Houston. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Astros vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Rangers lead 5-3

The Rangers picked up a 4-3 victory in 12 innings, and Texas inched closer to playoff position in the American League. OF Dustin Harris had a game-winning double, as the minor-league call-up was a hero on the same day he was recalled from the minors. 1B Jake Burger also had a 2-run homer, while OF-1B Ezequiel Duran went 3-for-5, and OF Wyatt Langford finished 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 walks and a run scored.

For the Astros, 3B Carlos Correa finished 3-for-5 with a 2-run homer, while C Vic Caratini stayed hot with 3 singles and an RBI in 4 at-bats.

Texas has won 10 of the past 13 games, while winning 3 in a row at home, and 6 of the past 7 games at home. The Under has cashed in each of the past 3 outings.

Houston has dropped 3 of the past 4 games, while allowing 3 or more runs in 7 straight contests. The Over is 4-1 in the past 5 games despite Friday’s Under result. The Astros are just 3-5 in the past 8 road games, while the Over is 9-4-1 in the past 14 games away from home.

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Astros at Rangers projected starters

RHP Hunter Brown vs. RHP Jacob deGrom

Brown (10-7, 2.34 ERA) makes his 28th start. He has a 1.01 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 10.1 K/9 through 161 2/3 innings.

Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H (solo HR), 3 BB, 5 K in 3-0 home loss vs. Los Angeles Angels Aug. 31Last 7 starts: 1-3, 1.69 ERA (42 2/3 IP, 8 ER), 13 BB, 38 K, 1.05 WHIP2025 road stats: 5-2, 2.42 ERA (81 2/3 IP, 22 ER), 6 HR, 23 BB, 91 K, 1.05 WHIP in 14 starts (1 CG)2025 vs. Rangers: 0-2, 3.46 ERA (13 IP, 5 IP), 2 HR, 2 BB, 17 K in 2 starts (1 CG)Career vs. Rangers: 3-4, 3.20 ERA (45 IP, 16 ER), 4 HR, 12 BB, 45 K, 1.20 WHIP in 8 starts (1 CG)

DeGrom (11-6, 2.69 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 0.92 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9, 9.6 K/9 through 150 1/3 innings.

Last start: Win, 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 9-6 road victory vs. the A’s Aug. 31Last 7 starts: 2-4, 3.79 ERA (38 IP, 16 ER), 9 BB, 48 K, 0.95 WHIP in 7 starts2025 home stats: 6-4, 2.20 ERA (77 2/3 IP, 19 ER), 7 HR, 16 BB, 73 K, 0.93 WHIP in 13 starts2025/career vs. Astros: 1-0, 1.29 ERA (14 IP, 2 ER), 2 solo HR, 2 BB, 15 K in 2 starts

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Astros at Rangers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:15 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Astros -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Rangers -118 ($118 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Astros -1.5 (+170) | Rangers +1.5 (-210)Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -102 | U: -118)Astros at Rangers picks and predictionsPrediction

Rangers 3, Astros 2

The RANGERS (-115) are worth a look in the middle contest of this series, as they look to grab the win and clinch the series against their Lone Star State rivals.

Brown has pitched extremely well for the Astros, but he has just not received much in the way of run support. Houston has scored 3.81 runs per game in his starts, while going 16-11 in those 27 games. On the flip side, the Rangers provide 5.12 runs of support in deGrom’s starts.

The Rangers +1.5 (-210) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not nearly enough reward, should you need some insurance.

If you like Texas, just bet it straight up.

AVOID.

UNDER 7 (-118) is an extremely low number, but we have 2 pitchers that allow very little in the way of runs. The Under is 6-0-1 in Brown’s past 7 starts, but the Over is 8-2 across the past 10 starts by deGrom.

The Under has hit in 3 in a row for the Rangers, while holding a slight 4-3 edge in the past 7 games at home. For the Astros, the Over is 4-1 in the past 5 games, but the Under is 8-4 across the previous 12 outings.

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