The Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers play the rubber game of their interleague series on Wednesday, April 2. First pitch from Great American Ball Park is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on Rangers Sports Network and FanDuel Ohio.
After a 14-run outburst in the series opener, the Reds were shut out by the Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi on Tuesday night. The Wednesday series finale features an intriguing starting pitching matchup between the Rangers' Jack Leiter and the Reds' Hunter Greene.
Find my Rangers vs Reds predictions and picks for Wednesday below.
My Rangers vs Reds Prediction
- Rangers vs Reds picks: Under 8.5 (+100 | Play to -105)
My Rangers vs Reds best bet is Under 8.5, primarily due to the starting pitching matchup. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Rangers vs Reds Odds
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -170 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | +122 |
| Reds Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +143 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | -145 |
- Rangers vs Reds Moneyline: Rangers +122, Reds -145
- Rangers vs Reds Total: Over/Under 8.5
- Rangers vs Reds Spread: Rangers +1.5 (-170), Reds -1.5 (+143)
- Rangers vs Reds Best Bet: Under 8.5
Rangers vs Reds Preview, Thursday Prediction
Rangers Betting Preview
The Rangers hand the ball to right-hander Jack Leiter, who should serve as a great candidate to back. The 2021 second-overall draft pick is one of the Rangers’ top prospects, and he has gotten off to a tremendous start this season.
Leiter pitched against the Boston Red Sox in his first start last week, surrendering just one run through five innings while collecting four strikeouts. Texas won that game 4-1, and a similar low-scoring affair is likely to occur Wednesday.
The reason for this projection is not only Leiter’s strong pitching but also the Rangers’ struggles at the plate so far. Entering this matchup, Texas ranks in the bottom 10 of the league in runs per game, hits per game, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.
These struggles are likely to continue against right-hander Hunter Greene, another former second overall draft pick and the starting pitcher for the Reds on Wednesday. Through 28 combined plate appearances against Greene, the current Rangers roster has a .160 batting average and .271 weighted on-base average.
Reds Betting Preview logo1url=
Like Leiter, Greene also fared well in his first start of 2025. Against the San Francisco Giants, Greene surrendered just two runs through five innings.
After a troubling 2023 season, Greene found his rhythm in 2024 and developed into one of the best pitchers in baseball. He finished the year with a 9-5 record through 26 starts, posting a 2.75 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
His underlying metrics were equally dominant. Greene ranked in the 86th percentile or higher in xERA, xBA, average exit velocity, barrel, and hard-hit rates.
Although it was just one start, his performance so far in 2025 suggests we may be seeing another dominant season from Greene. He currently sports a 1.07 xERA and .096 xBA.
Following Greene is a bullpen that finished the 2024 season ranked eighth in WAR.
Rangers vs Reds Prediction, Over/Under Betting Analysis
No hitter on Cincinnati has faced Leiter, so it may take a few turns through the order for the Reds’ lineup to adjust. On the other hand, Greene profiles as one of the premier pitchers in the league, and we should expect another tremendous season from the 25-year-old.
There have been eight or fewer total runs scored in five of Greene’s past eight starts. Meanwhile, there have also been eight or fewer total runs scored in each of Leiter’s past two starts.
Lastly, there have been eight or fewer total runs scored in four of the past six meetings between these two teams.
Pick: Under 8.5 (+100 | Play to -105)
Moneyline
I lean Cincinnati but I don't want to lay -132 against Leiter.
Run Line (Spread)
I also like the Reds to cover but don't want to bet on it for the same reason listed above.
Over/Under
As mentioned, I'm betting Under 8.5 at +100.
