MLB Picks July 19: Rangers host Orioles in featured game

The MLB season starts the second half after the All-Star break. Teams are looking to make a run over the final few months for a playoff spot and a shot at a World Series title. There is a full slate of games for Friday, July 19. We will look at five of them with the Rangers against the Orioles in the headlined matchup.

Baltimore Orioles versus Texas Rangers

The Orioles are holding on to the AL East lead despite “dead” and 1-5 over the last six games. They hit the road to face the Rangers, third in the AL West at 44-50. Texas is “average” after losing their last two and 4-2 over the last six. The teams have been trending in games “over” the line. Baltimore has a +84 to +6 scoring differential edge and Texas is +16 to +1 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Both teams are moderately consistent regarding their favorite/underdog status. Baltimore is 28-16 on the road and Texas is 24-21 at home. The Orioles won three of the first four games between the teams this season, with three totaling 11 runs. I like Baltimore to get back on track in a game “over” the line.

Philadelphia Phillies versus Pittsburgh Pirates

The Phillies have the best record in the league and come in “average down” and 3-3 over the last six. Pittsburgh is third in the NL Central and “burning hot” after going 4-2 over the last six. The Pirates have a +25 to +11 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator but the Phillies have a better road record than the Pirates home record. The teams have been trending in games “under” the line. Philadelphia is one of the most stable teams in the league at +29 on the Team Volatility Oscillator.  The Phillies won three of the first four games between the teams this season with three games totaling seven runs or less. I like the Phillies in a game “under” the line.

Tampa Bay Rays versus New York Yankees

In this AL East battle, the Yankees come in just a game back in the division while the Rays are at .500, ten games off the pace. The Rays are “burning hot” after winning three of the last four and the Yankees are “average” after a 3-3 stretch. Tampa Bay is +22 to +14 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams have been involved in games “under” the line in four of the last six games. New York has a substantial edge in scoring differential, +102 to -62. In addition, they are 25-19 at home versus the Rays record of 21-21 on the road. The Yankees have won five of the nine games between the teams this season. I like the Yankees at home in a game “under” the line.

St. Louis Cardinals versus Atlanta Braves

The Braves are nine games behind the Phillies in the NL East and enter play “average up” after a 4-2 stretch. The Cardinals are second in the NL Central but have lost their last three and “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Braves have a +21 to +13 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator and +66 to -42 scoring differential gap. The teams have been involved in games “over” the line in 10 of the last 12. The Cardinals won two of the first three games between the teams this season with all games totaling eight runs or less. The Cardinals are 24-24 on the road and the Braves are 29-17 at home. I like the Braves but pass on the “over/under” bet.

Houston Astros versus Seattle Mariners

In this AL West contest, the top two teams square off. Houston is “burning hot” after a four-game winning streak and Seattle is “average down” after going 3-3 over the last six. Houston has a +26 to +10 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator and +52 to +21 scoring differential edge. The teams are trending in games “over” the line but in head-to-head play this season have averaged a total of about six runs per game. Houston is only 22-25 on the road and Seattle has an excellent home record of 30-18. The Mariners have won five of the seven games between the teams this season. I like that trend to continue in a game “under” the line.