MLB Picks: Single Game Picks & Props for Thursday, September 3
We have a total of nine games in Major League Baseball in this first Thursday of September. It's a light schedule, with three daytime starts and series finales, while six teams play at 7:15 p.m. ET or later. The Boston Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers-Chicago Cubs are in the national-regional game on FOX. Check your local listings. Let's get started!
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Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers Best Bets and Predictions
Pick #1: Rangers ML (+110 Bet365 and Caesars)
The Rays (83-56) and the Rangers (69-71) meet at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas for the series opener of a four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay is 36-31 on the road, while Texas is 38-30 at home. The Rays are an impressive 14-7 against AL West teams this season, while Texas is 12-10 vs. AL East teams.
The Rays open with LHP Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.19 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) across 113 IP in 23 starts this season, but he is just 2-5 with a 3.91 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. And, the Rangers are a solid 22-18 against left-handed starting pitchers in 2026.
For the Rangers, they turn to RHP Cal Quantrill (6-5, 3.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP), as he makes his 12th start and 29th appearance overall. He has been particularly effective lately, going 3-2 with a sparkling 1.49 ERA (36.1 IP, 6 ER, 0.80) with five walks and 36 K in six starts and one relief appearance in the past seven outings. At home, he has 2.61 ERA across 48.1 IP in five starts and 14 appearances.
Tampa Bay won two of three meetings at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg earlier this season, with the Under cashing in all three games. In fact, the Under is 6-1 in the past seven meetings in the series since April 6, 2025, with a combined average of 6.0 runs per game (RPG). Tampa Bay is 5-1 in the previous six installments, too.
While McClanahan has been sharp this season, he has had his issues on the road. Tampa Bay has dominated this series, but it runs into a buzzsaw in Quantrill, who is pitching about as well as he ever has in his career.
Let's side with the Rangers, as they handle the twig well against left-handed starting pitchers, too.
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Pick #2: Rays/Rangers Under 8 Runs (-115 Fanatics)
Looking to the total, again, we've had just 6.0 combined runs per game (RPG) in the past seven in the series, and only 13 total runs in the first three games in this season's series, or 4.3 RPG.
The Under is 5-3 in the past eight starts by McClanahan, and the total has gone low in five of the southpaw's past six starts on the road.
The Over has cashed in four in a row for the Rangers, but the Under is 4-0-2 in Quantrill's past six starts.
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Pick #3: Yandy Diaz 2+ Hits + Runs + RBIs (-145 DraftKings)
Diaz has been performing well at the plate lately, collecting at least two hits in three of his past five outings. He hit .293 with three doubles, five homers and 12 RBI in August, posting a .782 OPS, and he started off September with a pair of hits in four at-bats, including a double and a solo home run, in Tuesday's game with the New York Mets.
And, for what it's worth, Diaz is 3 for 11 (.273) with a triple and an RBI in his career against Quantrill. Look for Diaz to get on base at least once, and hopefully it will be with someone on base, or he'll come around to score, too.
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MLB Picks Recap
- Rangers ML (+110 Bet365 and Caesars)
- Rays/Rangers - Under 8 Runs (-115 Fanatics)
- Yandy Diaz - 2+ Hits + Runs + RBIs (-145 DraftKings)
All plays - 1 Unit
