Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer returns to the American League for the first time in many years on Thursday afternoon as he makes his Texas Rangers debut as a big home favorite against the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a series.

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White Sox vs. Rangers Game Information

'Twas a good night. #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/fxAacwN0Ii

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 3, 2023

• When: Thursday, August 3, 2023, 2:05 PM ET
• Where: LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL
• TV: NBCSCH, BSSW, MLBN
• Radio: WMVP AM 1000 (White Sox) // 105.3 KRLD-FM The Fan (Rangers)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: White Sox (+216) // Rangers (-263)

READ MORE: Phillies vs. Marlins MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – August 2, 2023

Why bet on the Chicago White Sox?

Two teams headed in very different directions. The White Sox were huge sellers ahead of the deadline, essentially shipping out almost every key reliever they had other than closer Liam Hendriks, and he’s still around only because he’s on the injured list. He has been out with right elbow inflammation since June 10 but reportedly isn’t too far from a return. Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito was also traded, but the team kept shortstop Tim Anderson and ace starting pitcher Dylan Cease despite taking offers on both.

Perhaps the most surprising deal was Chicago sending young slugging third baseman/second baseman Jake Burger to Miami for a pitching prospect. It was thought Burger was part of Chicago’s future. A 2017 first-round pick out of Missouri State, Burger has slashed .214/.279/.527 with 15 doubles, 25 homers and 52 RBIs in 2023 — his first full season in the big leagues. Overall, the White Sox traded six pitchers and Burger as part of six trades before the trade deadline.

It’s Touki Toussaint (1-3) on the mound Thursday for Chicago, and he should stay in the rotation the rest of the way with Giolito traded to the Angels. Toussaint earned the win last Friday, allowing three hits and one walk over five scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over the Guardians. He struck out four and induced 14 swinging strikes on 83 pitches en route to his first win of the season. Once a highly regarded prospect, the right-hander has bounced around in recent years. Toussaint originally replaced Mike Clevinger in the Chicago rotation after Clevinger landed on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Clevinger is still on the IL.

Why bet on the Texas Rangers?

Texas leads the AL West and is all-in to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Rangers have made a ton of trades over the past few weeks, led by landing Scherzer and several million dollars from the Mets for top prospect Luisangel Acuna, the younger brother of Braves star and NL MVP favorite Ronald Acuna.

Over the weekend, Scherzer waived his no-trade clause to facilitate a trade to Texas, marking his return to the American League for the first time since 2014 with Detroit. The Mets are paying all but $22.5 million of the salary as a part of the deal, meaning New York will cover a total of $35 million through the end of 2024.

Scherzer comes off one of his best starts of the season last Friday as he pitched seven innings of one-run ball in defeating the Nationals. Scherzer fanned seven in defeating the Nationals for the second time in two tries this year. He’s 9-4 with a 4.01 ERA that drops to 3.60 if one only counts the 16 starts since he returned from the IL in May. He has been especially susceptible to the long ball, allowing a career-high 1.9 home runs per nine innings.

Scherzer is the active leader in career strikeouts (3,314), and one of just 19 pitchers in MLB history to reach 3,000+ career strikeouts. He will become the 5th-ever member of the “3,000 Strikeout Club” to appear for Texas, joining Nolan Ryan (1989-93), Bert Blyleven (1976-77), Gaylord Perry (1975-77, 1980), and Fergie Jenkins (1974-75, 1978-81).

The Rangers remain without two of their best hitters in All-Star shortstop Corey Seager and catcher Jonah Heim. The 29-year-old landed Seager on the injured list July 22 with a sprained right thumb. Seager was eligible to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday, and general manager Chris Young hopes he can rejoin the team in the coming days. Seager was slashing.350/.413/.631 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 66 games before his recent injury.

“He’s doing some modified baseball activities,” Young said Tuesday. “All signs point to him being back sometime shortly thereafter the 10-day period, but again, that could change. One step at a time. But everything right now is going very well.”

Young said the Rangers are “cautiously optimistic” that Heim (left wrist) will play again this season. The team wants Heim to rest for 2-3 weeks before any reexamination, with season-ending surgery on the table. Heim has been one of the best catchers in baseball, both offensively and defensively, all season. His slash line is .280/.337/.479 with 14 home runs and 70 RBI in 90 games.

Mitch Garver and Sam Huff will continue to get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate, but the team did trade for Pirates catcher Austin Hedges this week for depth. He can’t hit at all but is a good defender.

White Sox vs. Rangers Betting Trends

• White Sox are 2-9 SU in the last 11 games.
• White Sox are 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road.
• The total went under in 4 of the White Sox’s last 5 games.
• Rangers are 9-2 SU in the last 11 games at home.
• Rangers are 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox.
• The total went under in 4 of Texas’ last 5 games.

White Sox vs. Rangers Betting Prediction

Rangers 5, White Sox 3.

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