White Sox vs. Rangers prediction and odds for Thursday, August 3 (Scherzer's Debut)

Well, there’s a reason that the Texas Rangers went for it at the trade deadline. They’ve won their last two against the Chicago White Sox and are clinging to a half game lead over the Astros in the AL West at 62-46. The White Sox are 43-66 and have lost three straight.

The most notable addition for the Rangers at the deadline was Max Scherzer and he’ll make his debut for Texas tonight. Scherzer is 9-4, but with a 4.01 ERA in 19 starts for the Mets. He will be opposed by Touki Toussaint who is 1-3 with a 3.50 ERA in nine trips to the mound.

With their new starting pitcher on the mound, the Rangers are big favorites at home in the series finale.

White Sox vs. Rangers odds, run line and total

White Sox vs. Rangers prediction and pick

If Max Scherzer was still Max Scherzer, he would have cost the Rangers more and the Mets might have actually still been in the playoff picture. He can still be a helpful piece for Texas, but he’s far from the perennial Cy Young candidate that he once was. 

The 39-year-old Scherzer’s velocity has continued to fall off and with that his strikeout rate has dropped to 27.3% down from 30.6% last year and 34.1% the year prior. His walk rate is also up and he’s given up 23 home runs in his 19 starts. In July alone he gave up 10 home runs in five starts and it’s becoming a serious problem. 

Scherzer actually might not be the better starting pitcher in this matchup, believe it or not. Toussaint’s FIP is 4.55 which is lower than Scherzer’s at 4.71. He’s also only allowed two home runs this year. However, he’s issued 23 walks in 36 innings with only 29 strikeouts which is a huge cause for concern. 

Toussaint does it with free passes and Scherzer does it by giving up the long ball, but they both can give up plenty of runs. Texas took an 11-1 win yesterday and Corey Seager returned with a home run. Seager getting healthy is much bigger news than Scherzer joining the team and that’s why I’ll take the over. 

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