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The Houston Astros have won two in a row on the road and will look to take the upper hand when they battle the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of their American League Championship Series on Friday. The Astros (90-72), who had lost the first two games of the series at home, are making their seventh consecutive ALCS appearance and are looking to make it to their fifth World Series in seven years. The Rangers (90-72), who are making their first postseason appearance since 2016, had won their first seven games of the 2023 MLB playoffs before losing the past two. Texas has not reached the World Series since 2011.

The game from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, is scheduled to start at 5:07 p.m. ET. The Astros have MLB's second-most postseason home runs this year with 18, while the Rangers have the third-most with 15. The game is a pick'em on the money line, with each team listed at -110 (risk $110 to win $100) in the latest Astros vs. Rangers odds from SportsLine consensus. The over-under for total runs scored is 9. Before making any Rangers vs. Astros picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It entered the NLCS and ALCS of the 2023 MLB playoffs 93-74 on all top-rated MLB picks this season and has excelled on top-rated run-line picks, going 18-6 (+766). Anybody following has seen big returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Astros vs. Rangers and revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's MLB picks. Here are several MLB odds and trends for Astros vs. Rangers:

  • Astros vs. Rangers money line: Houston -110, Texas -110
  • Astros vs. Rangers over-under: 9 runs
  • Astros vs. Rangers run line: Texas +1.5 (-183)
  • HOU: The Astros have won seven of the past 10 games
  • TEX: The Rangers are 51-33 at home this season, including the postseason
  • Astros vs. Rangers picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why you should back the Rangers

Right fielder Adolis Garcia is coming off a solid outing in Thursday's loss, going 2-for-4, including a home run. He has hits in eight of nine postseason games, including three in a row. He also has three multi-hit games, including a 2-for-4 performance with a home run and three RBI in a 7-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles to close out Texas' ALDS win. He is hitting .282 in the playoffs, with a double and three home runs, after hitting .245 during the regular season with 39 homers, 107 RBI and 108 runs scored.

Also helping power the Rangers' offense is second baseman Marcus Semien. He was 1-for-4 on Thursday and has hits in five playoff games, including a 2-for-5 effort in Game 2 of the ALCS. During the regular season, Semien was one of the Rangers' best hitters, batting .276 with 29 homers, 100 RBI and 122 runs scored. He entered the series as a .264 lifetime hitter against the Astros with 20 homers and 53 RBI. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back the Astros

Veteran right handed pitcher Justin Verlander (13-8, 3.22 ERA) will get the ball for Houston. Acquired from the New York Mets at the trade deadline, he has been sharp. In 11 regular season games with Houston, Verlander went 7-3 with a 3.31 ERA. He has a 1-1 record with a 1.42 ERA in the postseason, with a win over Minnesota in the ALDS and a 2-0 loss in Game 1 of the ALCS to the Rangers. He went 6.2 innings in that game, allowing just six hits and two earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts.

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez continues to come up big when he is needed the most. In Thursday's win, Alvarez was 2-for-4 with three RBI. It was his fifth multi-hit effort in eight playoff contests and third two-hit game in a row. In eight postseason games, Alvarez is batting .419 with two doubles and six home runs. In 114 regular-season games, he hit .293 with 31 homers and 97 RBI. See which team to pick here.

How to make Astros vs. Rangers picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the run total, projecting 9.4 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's MLB picks and analysis at SportsLine.

So who wins Game 5 of Astros vs. Rangers, and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has gone 93-74 on its top-rated MLB picks, and find out.