The Texas Rangers host the Philadelphia Phillies on August 8, 2025. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on NBCS-PH.
Tonight's game features a dynamite starting pitching matchup with Cristopher Sanchez getting the start for the Phillies, and the Rangers' Merrill Kelly will oppose him.
Find my MLB betting preview and Phillies vs Rangers prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
My Phillies vs Rangers Prediction
- Phillies vs Rangers picks: Under 7.5 (-130, DraftKings)
My Phillies vs Rangers best bet is Under 7.5. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Phillies vs Rangers Odds, Spread, Best Bet
| Phillies Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +134 | 7.5 -104o / -117u | -132 |
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -164 | 7.5 -104o / -117u | +108 |
Phillies vs Rangers Run Line: Phillies -1.5 (+134); Rangers +1.5 (-164)
Phillies vs Rangers Totals: 7.5 (O -104 / U -117)
Phillies vs Rangers Moneyline: Phillies -132; Rangers +108
Phillies vs Rangers Best Bet: Under 7.5
Phillies vs Rangers Projected Starting Pitchers
| LHP Cristopher Sanchez (PHI) | Stat | RHP Merrill Kelly (TEX) |
|---|---|---|
| 10-3 | W-L | 9-6 |
| 3.8 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 2.6 |
| 2.40/2.95 | ERA /xERA | 3.22/3.82 |
| 2.82/2.82 | FIP / xFIP | 3.44/3.60 |
| 1.07 | WHIP | 1.04 |
| 19.9% | K-BB% | 16.6% |
| 58.4% | GB% | 45.0% |
| 114 | Stuff+ | 91 |
| 99 | Location+ | 105 |
Alex Hinton’s Phillies vs Rangers Preview
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview: Phillies Soaring With Sanchez
After dropping two of three to the White Sox, the Phillies went 4-2 on their homestand, taking both series from the Tigers and Orioles. With some help from a Mets skid, the Phillies' lead in the NL East has increased to 2.5 games. They have to feel good about their chances of extending that lead with Cristopher Sanchez taking the mound tonight.
Longtime Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is still in search of his first Cy Young Award, but it may be his teammate Sanchez who usurps him from the award. Sanchez is 10-3 with a 2.40 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 138 2/3 innings. Over the last two years, he has been dominant at Citizens Bank Park. However, he has matched that home success with a 2.47 ERA on the road this year.
Sanchez did not get much run support in his last outing, but it did not matter as he tossed eight shutout innings against the Tigers as the Phillies won 2-0. Sanchez is currently third in Cy Young odds behind Paul Skenes and Wheeler, but still offering a ton of value at +1400.
In Sanchez's last win, Kyle Schwarber put the game away with a solo home run in the eighth inning. With two home runs on Monday, he became the first player in the NL with 40 home runs. For Schwarber, it was his third 40-home run season in the past four seasons. He is in the top three in the MLB in home runs, RBI, and OPS.
He is a candidate to leave the yard again tonight as he is 4-for-15 with a double and two home runs against Merrill Kelly. Trea Turner is 12-for-30 with three doubles and a home run off Kelly as well. He is coming off a three-hit game his last time out.
Texas Rangers Betting Preview: Kelly Improving Upturning Rangers
Coming into this season, I had high expectations for the Rangers after an injury-riddled title defense last year. They got off to a slow start this season, but they still find themselves in the thick of the AL Wild Card race. They improved their standing after they took two of three from the Yankees, picking up a game on them for the third Wild Card spot in the process.
For the Rangers, their pitching has carried the way as they lead the MLB with a 3.23 team ERA. Nathan Eovaldi will qualify for the ERA title with another start or two, and he has quietly enjoyed a historic season as he paces the staff with a 1.38 ERA. It has also been great to see Jacob DeGrom healthy once again, and he has turned in another great campaign.
The Rangers strengthened at the trade deadline with the acquisition of Merrill Kelly. He did not pick up a decision in his first start with the Rangers, but he struck out six and allowed two earned runs in 5 and 2/3 innings in a 6-4 victory over the Mariners. He will make his Rangers home debut against a familiar foe, as he helped the Diamondbacks defeat the Phillies in the 2023 NLCS. Kelly is 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in career starts against the Phillies.
Kelly helped the Rangers pull off a rare victory against Seattle. They are 3-10 against the Mariners this season, but 57-46 against the rest of the league. Now that they are finished in the Mariners for the year, it will be interesting to see how high they can climb in the AL Wild Card race.
Phillies vs Rangers Prediction, Betting Analysis
Sanchez has been a problem for opposing lineups all season, and when I saw he was starting, my initial reaction was to expect a lower-scoring game. He has held lefties to a .160 batting average and .443 OPS this season. Tonight will be his first start against the Rangers, but that could lead to a long night for Rangers star Corey Seager.
Kelly is certainly no slouch himself with a 3.22 ERA and 127 strikeouts across 134 frames this season. He has allowed two runs or fewer in his last three starts against the Phillies. Considering this pitching matchup, I like the under tonight, especially after looking at the trends.
Nine of Sanchez's last 10 starts have seen six runs or fewer. Five of those games came on the road, and the under has hit in 32 of the Phillies' last 52 road games. Additionally, 37 of the Rangers' last 57 at home landed under as well. Considering those trends, I expect runs to be at a premium tonight, and I will be backing Sanchez and Kelly in tonight's same-game parlay as well.
Pick: Under 7.5 (-130, DraftKings)
Phillies vs Rangers Parlay
- Cristopher Sanchez 5+ Strikeouts Thrown
- Merrill Kelly 5+ Strikeouts Thrown
- Trea Turner 1+ Hits
- Corey Seager 1+ Strikeouts
Parlay odds: +238 (DraftKings)
Sanchez has five strikeouts in nine of his last 10 starts, and the Rangers lead the MLB in strikeout rate against left-handers over the past month.
Kelly has recorded five strikeouts in seven of his last 10 starts.
As mentioned, Turner is hitting .400 lifetime against Kelly and is coming off a three-game.
Seager has 30 strikeouts in 107 at-bats against left-handed pitchers. He has struck out at least once in seven of his last eight games.
