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Nolan Writin Predictions for the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays Wild Card Series

The series kicks off Tuesday afternoon and all of our writers are here to offer up their predictions on how we think the series is going to go.

ByMichael Sanders, Brian Sweet, Lorenzo Almanza, Stephen Francis, West Jones|
Texas Rangers v Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers v Seattle Mariners | Steph Chambers/GettyImages
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Brian Sweet

After a 162 games, the Texas Rangers crossed the finish line and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016. It has been a drama filled season as the Rangers dealt with injuries after injuries and somehow still made the American League Wildcard round. They will be going up against the Tampa Bay Rays starting Tuesday at Tropicana Field. You would think that the Rangers have it in the bag having the number one offense in the American League right? I’m very concerned going into this matchup against the Rays and you should be as well.

The Rangers will be going into this series without their two CY-Young pitchers Max Scherzer and Jacob DeGrom and also without starting pitcher Jon Gray. More than likely, the Rangers will have a starting rotation that consists of Jordan Montgomery, Nathan Eovaldi, and Dane Dunning or Andrew Heaney. They also have one of the most inconsistent bullpens in the league this season.  They have blown 33 saves this season which is the most in the major leagues. I really want to predict the Rangers winning the series but with the injuries to the starting rotation and the inconsistent bullpen, I don’t know if it will be enough to beat the Rays and advance to the ALDS.

Prediction: Tampa Bay in 3

Lorenzo Almanza

We couldn't have asked for a better matchup between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays. This will be an exciting series, as both groups are the top-hitting teams in the American League. Texas knocked in 881 runs this season, as the Rays trailed behind them with 860. 

Ultimately, this series will go all three games, with Texas coming out on top. The resilience and fight of the Rangers' pitching staff will do just enough to help the team scrap. The Rangers' pitching faired well in the last two games against the Seattle Mariners, as they allowed two runs. 

All-Star Corey Seager will be the difference maker, as he will be the series MVP. He has played well against the Rays this season, and this trend should continue heading to the postseason. 

This should be an exciting series with a ton of firepower from both teams. 

Prediction: Texas in 3

Schedule