Texas Rangers' Struggles Despite Eovaldi's Strong Season

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00:00We have talked about some disappointing teams so far this year, DRS.

00:04I think there's an argument to be made for the Texas Rangers as well,

00:07a team I know you were high on in terms of maybe contending for the American League pennant.

00:12Not the case for Texas so far.

00:14They are also below .500, but a dollar and a half favorite tonight in Arlington

00:18as Texas gets ready to take on Toronto.

00:21Minus .148, the price in favor of the Rangers now, a total of eight.

00:27What's the story here in this Texas Toss?

00:28The story is Nathan Evaldi and how good he's been this season so far.

00:31Take a look at 231 batters he's faced on the season, an 078 ISO,

00:35and a weighted on base percentage of .215 against, a K rate of close to 28%

00:39and a walk rate of under 5%.

00:41Then you take a look and say, well, how has he been over the past 30 days?

00:44If you take those 231 batters and shrink them to 92, it's actually been even better.

00:48An 078 ISO, which is microscopically low, down to an 046,

00:52a weighted on base percentage of .215, down to a .199.

00:55Now, granted, Toronto does present itself very well at the plate here.

00:58Against right-handed pitching over the past month, that should help.

01:01But as always, you lean towards the better pitcher over the better lineup time and time again.

01:05You flip it to the other side, Bowdoin Francis on the mound.

01:07His last 30 days have been a disaster.

01:0988 total batters faced, a .329 ISO, and a weighted on base percentage of .446,

01:14and that includes both lefties and righties getting the best of them here.

01:17Not a great-looking lineup, though, today for the Texas Rangers.

01:20Jake Berger, probably the best of it.

01:22Haggard, he's only had nine at-bats to lead off here.

01:24He's got a .333 ISO, but how much can you take that with only nine at-bats?

01:2763 at-bats for Lankford, average.

01:29Josh Smith, average.

01:30I do still lean towards the better pitching tonight for Eovaldi,

01:34and looking at Bowdoin Francis, he should get hit,

01:36even by a lineup that doesn't present us up all that well.

01:38It's got to be the Rangers for me again.

01:40That's genius.

02:01.